Storm Charles and the aftermath of Wednesday’s general strike shaped the day across Spain, with transport, weather alerts and a housing vote in Congress all in play. Here is what matters if you live here.
City news
Mobile alert for 30 coastal towns in Huelva and Cádiz
The Junta de Andalucía, the regional government whose seat is in Seville, has sent an ES-Alert to phones located in 30 municipalities on the Huelva and Cádiz coast. The orange wind warning remains in force, with gusts of up to 120 km/h and heavy rain expected. If you live or travel along that coast, treat the alert as a prompt to check local conditions before going out.
Source: 20minutos Sevilla
Seville copes with Charles, with no serious incidents
In Seville, storm Charles left a long list of minor problems but nothing serious. The 112 emergency service handled 79 calls, mostly about fallen trees and branches, flooding and landslides. Expect some tidying up and local disruption rather than a major emergency.
Source: Diario de Sevilla
Barcelona commuter trains run late after rain and strike
In Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia, Rodalies commuter trains are running with widespread delays, caused by the heavy rain linked to storm Charles and lingering effects of the general strike. Because trains are missing at the start of lines, the operator has arranged alternative road transport. Plan your journey and check the latest information before leaving.
Source: Betevé
Vallcarca green boulevard still divides Barcelona
In Barcelona, the future of the Vallcarca rambla verda (green boulevard) is still being debated more than two decades after its transformation was first planned. The neighbourhood group Som Barri wants the plan rethought so that buildings are not demolished. The city council says the project is not stalled and aims to deliver the stretch up to carrer d’Agramunt during this term.
Source: Betevé
Madrid’s anti-graffiti police unit has identified 1,466 people
In Madrid, the Policía Municipal’s Sección de Protección del Patrimonio Urbano was created three years ago to cut illegal graffiti. Officers have so far identified 1,466 people, using mapping, social media tracking and formal police reports. The work shows that illegal painting in the city is actively investigated and can lead to sanctions.
Source: 20minutos Madrid
Strikes, protests and transport disruption
Housing strike draws crowds despite the rain
The general strike for decent housing and better wages mobilised hundreds of thousands of people across Spain, even with heavy rain from storm Charles in several areas. The housing issue is now at the centre of national politics, as the items below show.
Source: Europa Press
Madrid kept minimum services, but pickets blocked main roads
In Madrid, Metro ran at 93% of its usual service and the EMT bus network reached 100% of its required minimums. Pickets and road cuts hit the M-30, A-6 and A-42. The city council spoke of “normality”, while the Comunidad de Madrid called the strike a “failure”.
Source: 20minutos Madrid
Andalusian strike marches postponed because of the storm
Storm Charles forced the suspension of general strike demonstrations in Cádiz, Huelva, Seville and Córdoba. Cádiz has moved its march to Sunday 15 November, and Córdoba is considering the same day. If you plan to be in those cities, check the final arrangements locally.
Source: 20minutos Sevilla
Catalonia was without public transport for hours
The nationwide walkout paralysed travel in Catalonia throughout the day. Minimum services only returned for peak hours. This explains the knock-on delays on Rodalies that are still being felt.
Source: The Local Spain
Madrid widens school minimum services for the teachers’ strike
The Comunidad de Madrid’s education department (Consejería de Educación) will change its minimum services order to widen cover in Bachillerato (upper secondary) and the final years of each stage, because of the indefinite teachers’ strike. The aim is to keep lessons going, with particular attention to students who will sit the PAU university entrance exam at the end of this school year. Families in the Madrid region with children in those years should watch for school communications.
Source: 20minutos Madrid
Cost of living
Government says rent extension would help five million people
The Consumo ministry estimates that the rent extension (prórroga del alquiler) would benefit five million people and let a tenant save 4,300 euros. On Thursday, Congress’s Diputación Permanente (the standing committee that acts between plenary sessions) debates the two housing decrees that the full chamber rejected in late September. That rejection led to the early election and to Wednesday’s general strike.
Source: 20minutos
Housing decree expected to pass by a single vote
The Diputación Permanente is expected to validate the housing decree law, which is already in force, and the margin is predicted to be one vote. The measure took up the demands of the Sol protesters, and its earlier rejection triggered the early election. The vote follows a general strike that mobilised millions of workers, according to elDiario.es.
Source: elDiario.es
Feijóo pledges to repeal the housing decrees if he governs
Opposition leader Alberto Feijóo says he would repeal the housing decrees if he governs, calling them “bad for tenants and for owners”. He also promises to raise pensions in line with inflation (IPC), saying “I will not play with pensioners”. The decrees are being voted on in Congress this Thursday.
Source: Europa Press
What it means for foreign residents
- Check Rodalies updates before any trip in Catalonia, as delays and road replacement services are in place (Betevé).
- If you are on the Huelva or Cádiz coast, keep ES-Alert messages switched on while the orange wind warning lasts (20minutos Sevilla).
- Tenants should follow the Congress vote on the housing decrees and the rent extension, as the outcome affects what the government says tenants could save (20minutos, elDiario.es).
- Parents in the Madrid region should check school notices about minimum services during the teachers’ strike (20minutos Madrid).
Spain Today is a curated digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.
Sources
- 20minutos Sevilla: La Junta de Andalucía envía un ES-Alert a los móviles localizados en 30 municipios del litoral de Huelva y Cádiz, accessed 12 November 2026
- Betevé: Retards a la xarxa de Rodalies per les pluges i els efectes de la vaga general, accessed 12 November 2026
- Diario de Sevilla: La borrasca 'Charles' deja un rosario de incidencias en Sevilla pero ninguna grave, accessed 12 November 2026
- Betevé: Som Barri reclama repensar la rambla verda de Vallcarca i evitar l’enderroc d’edificis, accessed 12 November 2026
- 20minutos Madrid: Las pesquisas de la patrulla antigrafitis de la Policía Municipal de Madrid: mapas, rastreo en redes sociales, sanciones…, accessed 12 November 2026
- Europa Press: La huelga general por la vivienda moviliza a miles de personas en España pese a las lluvias, accessed 12 November 2026
- 20minutos Madrid: La huelga en Madrid cumple los mínimos en transporte, limpieza y hospitales, pero con piquetes y cortes en M-30, A-6 y A-42, accessed 12 November 2026
- 20minutos Sevilla: La borrasca Charles obliga a suspender las manifestaciones por la huelga general en Cádiz, Huelva, Sevilla y Córdoba, accessed 12 November 2026
- The Local Spain: General strike leaves Catalonia without public transport for hours, accessed 12 November 2026
- 20minutos Madrid: Educación amplía los servicios mínimos en Bachillerato y los cursos finales de cada etapa ante la huelga indefinida de profesores, accessed 12 November 2026
- 20minutos: Consumo estima que la prórroga del alquiler beneficiará a cinco millones de personas y permitirá al inquilino ahorrar 4.300€, accessed 12 November 2026
- elDiario.es: La Diputación Permanente pone el colofón a la huelga con la aprobación del decreto Ley de vivienda, accessed 12 November 2026
- Europa Press: Feijóo promete derogar decretos de vivienda si gobierna y subir pensiones conforme IPC: "No jugaré con los pensionistas", accessed 12 November 2026
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