In the coming hours, the situation is expected to be especially delicate in Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Aragonwhere strong winds, blizzards in high mountain areas, and significant waves in coastal zones combine. Civil Protection authorities emphasize the need for Avoid unnecessary travel and take extra precautions to protect yourself., both in urban environments and in rural and mountain areas.
Orange alert and red warning in Catalonia: tramontana wind, torb wind and snow in the Pyrenees
In Catalonia, the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat) has raised Orange level wind warning Given the forecast of a strong tramontana and cierzo wind episode on Sunday, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the region. gusts exceeding 90 km/h in numerous locations and that in areas of the Pyrenees they can exceed 140 km/h, with the emergence of the phenomenon of bag (snowstorm) at high altitudes.
AEMET, for its part, has activated a red alert for hurricane-force winds in the Pyrenees of Girona and the Pre-Pyrenees of Barcelona, ​​where the maximum expected gusts may occasionally exceed 140 km/hThis red level, the highest in the alert system, will remain active until mid-afternoon in these areas, subsequently being reduced to Orange alert in much of the Catalan territory, including the province of Lleida and districts of Tarragona.
The gusts of tramontana wind will be especially intense in the Gironès and at high altitudes in regions such as Ripollès, Berguedà and Solsonès. Civil Protection warns of a notable risk of falling branches, trees and structural elementsas well as a very low wind chill in high mountains, where strong winds and polar air will combine.
The Ventcat plan was already activated with Wind warnings across the entire Pyrenees region, in addition to warnings for snow in the Vall d'Aran and by maritime storm on the coast of l'Empordà The deputy director of Civil Protection, Imma Solé, explained that a day of widespread northerly winds, which will begin at dawn and last until the evening, with gusts of 70-80 km/h even in areas less accustomed to these episodes, such as Garrotxa, La Selva, Gironès, Vallès or various regions of Ponent and Central Catalonia.
In the Pyrenees, the windstorm will be accompanied by a a notable drop in temperatures and a clear decrease in the snow levelwhich will be located around 600 meters in the western sector. Thicknesses greater than 10 centimeters above 900 meters On the northern slope, accumulations could reach 30 or 40 centimeters at high elevations in the Vall d'Aran, the north of Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça, causing difficulties in road mobility.
Civil Protection measures in Catalonia: ES-Alert, restrictions and transport
Faced with this scenario, Civil Protection of the Generalitat has decided strengthen preventive measuresDeputy Director Imma Solé has announced the sending an ES-Alert message to the population of several regions particularly exposed to the gale: Solsonès, Berguedà , Cerdanya, Ripollès, Alt Empordà and Garrotxa. In these areas, wind gusts could reach or exceed 100 km/h in the next hours.
Authorities recommend that during Sunday, and in particular between 8:00 a.m. and 20:00 p.m.is Avoid unnecessary travel and outdoor activitiesespecially at mid and high altitudes. It is emphasized that, if in doubt, it is best to cancel excursions or mountain activities to avoid being caught off guard by worsening weather.
The Servei Català de Trà nsit (SCT) has also requested restrict road travel In regions such as Alt Empordà , Ripollès, Berguedà , and Solsonès, and to exercise extreme caution if driving is necessary. It is recommended Reduce speed, increase safety distance and take special care in exposed areas such as viaducts, tunnel exits and bridges, where lateral gusts can be more dangerous.
Rail transport will be affected by the wind event. Renfe has announced the preventive traffic closure on the R11 line between Figueres and Portbou, and on the R3 between Vic and Ripoll, at least during Sunday morning. According to the initial forecast, the disruption will continue from the start of service until 13:00 PMHowever, the company will continue to review the situation based on how the alerts evolve. In both cases, the following measures will be enabled: alternative road services to guarantee basic mobility.
Protecció Civil summarizes the episode as the Convergence of three risk factors: wind, waves, and snowThis necessitates intense monitoring by emergency services. The blizzard in the mountains is compounded by... maritime storm on the coast of Girona and Tarragonawith waves that can exceed 2,5 meters (swell) and north and northwest winds of force 7 or 8.
Aragon: Orange alert for wind and snow in the Huesca Pyrenees
Further inland, the Government of Aragon has activated the Special Civil Protection Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PROCIFEMAR) On alert, due to a similar situation of widespread strong winds and snowfall in the Pyrenees. AEMET forecasts a progressive worsening Between Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, a northerly flow will arrive, increasing wind intensity and favoring snowfall in the low elevations of the Huesca Pyrenees.
Throughout Saturday, the following have been maintained Yellow wind warnings in different areas of Aragon, with maximum gusts expected to reach between 70 and 80 km/h, as well as a yellow warning for snowfall in the Huesca Pyrenees, where it is anticipated accumulations of up to 10 centimeters in 24 hours and a snow level that could drop to 500 meters. At higher elevations, the combination of snow and wind could lead to blizzards and problems on the road network.
The situation will intensify on Sunday, when AEMET raises the forecast to Orange level wind warning in the Huesca Pyrenees and in various areas of the province of Teruel, with gusts that could reach 100 km/hAt the same time, they will continue Yellow alerts in other areas of Huesca, Zaragoza and Teruelwhere the wind can reach 80 km/h, affecting regions such as Cinco Villas, Ribera del Ebro, Huesca Sur or Bajo Aragón.
From the Emergency Center 112 Aragon The regions and organizations involved are being informed about the evolution of the storm, in order to coordinate preventive actionsExtreme caution is advised when traveling by road, especially in mountainous areas, and the use of [unspecified] should be considered. winter tires or chains given the possibility of snowfall and ice patches on the road network.
Civil Protection insists on the importance of consulting updated information through official channels and follow the instructions of the emergency services. Activating PROCIFEMAR in the alert phase allows for anticipating the operational response and adopting appropriate measures. measures aimed at reducing risk and minimizing damage in infrastructure and population.
Valencian Community: Castellón on orange alert for wind and rough seas
La Valencia It also faces an episode of instability dominated by wind and rough seas, with Castellón as the most affected provinceThe Ministry of Emergencies and Interior, through the Emergency Coordination Center (CCE), has decreed the orange alert for strong winds throughout the coast and northern interior of Castellón, as well as a Orange alert for coastal phenomena along the entire Castellón coast.
According to the AEMET forecast, the episode will begin in the late hours of Saturday the 28th and will last until Sunday the 29th of March, with maximum gusts of up to 100 km/h in the interior of Castellón and around 90 km/h on the coastAlong the coast, the wind can occasionally exceed these figures, with a waves of between two and three meters and northeast swell, which poses an added risk to beaches, seafronts and port areas.
For the rest of the Valencian Community, the same rules apply. Yellow level warnings for wind in the interior and northern coast of Valencia and in the inland and northern coast of Alicante, with streaks that could reach around 70 km/hThe following also remains in effect: Yellow alert for coastal phenomena along the entire coast of Valencia and Alicante, where waves of up to three or even four meters in some sections of the coastline.
The regional secretary for Emergencies and the Interior, Fernando Lasheras, he recalled the need to Take extra precautions in the most exposed areas and follow the development of the incident exclusively through official channels, such as the 112 website and social media or the GVA 112 Alerts mobile app. It is recommended to stay away from dilapidated buildings, breakwaters, cliffs and seafront promenadeswhere the combined impact of wind and waves can be especially dangerous.
The recommendations also extend to urban environments, where the following are identified as risk areas: parks, tree-lined avenues, and areas with electric poles or high-voltage towersAuthorities are urging people to limit unnecessary travel and are also advising check the condition of the homes To prevent loose items from falling, secure awnings, blinds and antennas, and remove flowerpots, cages or objects that may fall onto the public road.
Castellón: incidents in the capital, emergency services and expected evolution
In the province of Castellón, the wind has already stopped numerous incidentsespecially in the capital. AEMET maintains the forecast for this Sunday. Orange alert for winds with streaks that could exceed 100 km/h in practically the entire territory, accompanied by rough seas and a level 3 pre-emergency alert due to extreme risk of forest fire throughout the province.
In Castelló de la Plana, emergency services have had to strengthen their forces to deal with the storm. Municipal firefighters have carried out dozens of wind-related interventions, such as removing fallen trees, securing cornices, and removing elements at risk of falling. The operation has incorporated additional personnel, reaching approximately twenty firefighters, with the aim of restore normalcy and maintain responsiveness in the event of any incident.
La Local police It has also registered a high volume of calls, most of them dramatic but without serious consequences. The most common incidents are related to falling objects. signs, traffic signals, lightweight roofing, branches and treesas well as construction fences, containers moved by the wind, damaged cables, torn awnings and some isolated incidents with vehicles affected by falling trees or facade elements.
As a precautionary measure, some public spaces have been closed temporarily closed, including the Pinar park and the Meridiano park, since the activation of Castellón Municipal Territorial Emergency Plan (PLATEMCAS)Furthermore, several events planned for these days have been affected: the Comic Book Fair suspended and the rescheduling of activities such as historical reenactments and processions, recommending not to start them before noon, when the wind is expected to begin to subside.
AEMET's forecast indicates that, if the predictions are correct, the situation will tend to Improvement expected from midday on SundayThe wind warning level in the province could drop from orange to yellow. Even so, strong gusts will persist in some areas along the southern coast of Castellón, where an orange alert has been activated. coastal phenomena and wind for much of the day, with northerly winds that could reach around 50 km/h and maintain significant swell.
Eleven regions under wind warning: an overview in Spain
Beyond the worst-hit areas, AEMET maintains Warnings for wind, coastal phenomena, snow, rain and storms in up to eleven autonomous communities. In addition to Catalonia, Aragon and the Valencian Community, these include the Balearic Islands, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, the Community of Madrid, the Region of Murcia, Navarre, La Rioja and the Canary Islands, with levels ranging between yellow (risk) and orange (significant risk).
En BalearicsMallorca and Menorca are under Orange alert for wind and coastal phenomenawith force 8 winds and waves that can reach 12 meters in open sea. In Ibiza and Formentera, the warnings are at the yellow level, both for wind and sea, accompanied in some cases by showers and storms.
In the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, the wind has triggered yellow weather warnings in several provinces. Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha and the Community of Madridwhere gusts can reach around 70-80 km/h. Navarre and La Rioja also have yellow warnings for wind and snow, with moderate accumulations in 24 hours and possible occasional complications on mountain roads.
In Murcia, have been activated Yellow wind warnings in the high plateau and the Segura valley, and by Coastal phenomena on the coast of the Campo de Cartagena and Mazarrón. In Canary IslandsIslands such as Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and Tenerife maintain yellow warnings for northeast winds of up to 70-80 km/h and rough seas, with winds at sea of ​​force 7.
In MurciaYellow weather warnings have been issued for wind in the high plateau and the Segura valley, and for coastal phenomena along the coast of Campo de Cartagena and Mazarrón. Canary Islandsislands such as Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and Tenerife Yellow warnings remain in place for northeast winds up to 70-80 km/h and rough seas, with winds at sea of ​​force 7.
All of this points to a day in which the Wind will be the dominant phenomenon across much of the country, accompanied by rough seas in the Mediterranean and snowfall in the northern mountain ranges. Emergency services remind everyone of the importance of check loose objects on balconies and rooftopsSecure external elements, and constantly monitor the information provided by official bodies through their usual channels.
The episode of orange alert for wind The storm that is sweeping across Spain highlights, once again, the importance of anticipating adverse weather phenomena: from early warnings from AEMET to the activation of regional civil protection plans, including preventive measures in transport and in municipalities, the entire system is aimed at reducing the impact of gusts that can be very dangerous if precautions are not taken, both on the coast and inland and, especially, in mountain areas.
