A powerful eruption of North and northwest winds The storm has put the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula on high alert, with Catalonia at its epicenter due to a bout of hurricane-force gusts, snowfall at relatively low elevations, and heavy swells. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) have activated the highest levels of weather warning in several Pyrenean and coastal regions of Girona, while Civil Protection is urging extreme caution.
This storm, associated with the passage of a cold front accompanied by polar airThe storm is bringing gusts of over 140 kilometers per hour, significant snow accumulation in the Pyrenees, and numerous incidents on roads, in urban areas, and affecting the power grid. The risk is concentrated mainly during the middle of the day, when the red alert indicates an extreme danger scenario.
Red alert for wind in the Girona Pyrenees and the Barcelona pre-Pyrenees
Aemet keeps active the Red alert (extreme risk) for wind In the Pyrenees of Girona, gusts of up to 140 km/h are expected, accompanied by blizzards that drastically reduce visibility at higher elevations. This maximum alert level remains in effect until late afternoon, especially in exposed mountain areas.
Meteocat, for its part, describes the episode as a very strong wind eventWith a danger level of 5 out of 6, it warns of gusts exceeding 25 m/s (more than 90 km/h) in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. The period of greatest risk is between early morning and midday, with the highest incidence in the eastern Pyrenees and other areas of northern Catalonia.
In parallel, the following have been activated: orange level warnings with gusts of up to 100 km/h in the Pyrenees of Lleida, the Pyrenees of Huesca, the pre-Pyrenees of Barcelona and the Empordà , as well as in inland areas of Castellón and areas of Gúdar and Maestrazgo, already in the eastern half of the peninsula. In the southern pre-coastal area of ​​Tarragona and in Menorca, the wind may reach 90 km/h.
The most extreme gusts are being measured at iconic observatories in the northeast: in Portbou almost 149 km/h have been recordedIn the Darnius reservoir, wind speeds reached around 126 km/h, in Boà over 116 km/h, while in the Queralt sanctuary, the 100 km/h threshold was easily surpassed. These unusual values ​​reinforce the classification of this as a severe weather event.
According to Aemet, The gusts could be locally hurricane-force. In the eastern Pyrenees and other exposed areas of the northeastern peninsula and the northern Balearic Islands, this requires extreme caution not only in the mountains, but also in urban and heavily trafficked coastal areas.
Massive alerts and Civil Protection recommendations
Faced with this scenario, Civil Protection of Catalonia The Es-Alert system has sent messages to mobile phones in the Pyrenees and Alt Empordà regions, warning of gusts of up to 140 km/h and urging people to avoid outdoor activities and unnecessary travel. The most critical period, according to the warnings, is between 7:00 AM and 16:00 PM.
The official recommendations are clear: Do not approach wooded areas or unstable elementsStay away from facades with cornices or elements that could fall, secure awnings and objects on balconies and terraces, and limit travel to what is strictly necessary while the storm lasts.
Imma Solé, deputy director of operations for Civil Protection, has stressed that the current episode differs from the storm of a few weeks ago in that It mainly affects middle and upper levelsThe impact is particularly pronounced in the Pyrenees and pre-Pyrenees, and less uniform across the rest of Catalonia. Even so, the wind intensity necessitates close monitoring.
In addition to the wind, the next few hours are expected to be affected by blizzards and very low wind chill In mountainous areas, due to the combination of intense gusts, snow and the polar air that accompanies the front crossing Catalonia from west to east.
Injuries, power outages and hundreds of incidents due to the storm
The red alert episode has already had tangible consequences on the ground. According to the Emergency Medical System (EMS), Three people have suffered minor injuries when struck by objects and structures displaced by the wind in the province of Girona.
In Salt, a woman was injured when a A piece of the ceiling came loose and fell on his head In a house on Plaça Catalunya, a woman was injured and taken to Josep Trueta Hospital with minor injuries. In La Jonquera, a man was injured when a branch, uprooted by the wind, struck him in the street, and he was treated at Figueres Hospital. A third minor injury was reported in Garrigà s.
The storm has also caused major disruptions in the electricity supply in municipalities in Girona and central Catalonia. In the city of Girona, more than 1.700 customers are affected, while in La Pobla de Lillet the number exceeds 1,000. Outages are also being reported in Terres de l'Ebre (Tarragona), with thousands of customers without power in towns such as Amposta, Freginals, and Masdenverge.
The 112 emergency hotline has received more than a thousand calls related to the windespecially from the Gironès and Alt Empordà regions. Meanwhile, the Generalitat Fire Service has handled hundreds of calls, mostly for fallen trees and branches on public roads, unstable elements, and structural risks in buildings.
Local councils have also adopted preventative measures. In Figueres, for example, the council has decided close parks and gardens Given the risk of falling branches, a measure that is repeated in other municipalities in the area most affected by the tramontana wind.
Road closures and restrictions due to snow in the Pyrenees
The impact of the storm is especially noticeable on the road network. The Servei Català de Trà nsit reports several roads completely closed in the province of Girona and the north of Barcelona due to fallen trees on the road and accumulations of snow.
Among the affected roads are the GIV-4714 in Campelles, the GIV-5265 in Vilallonga de Ter, the GIV-5264 in Llanars, the GIV-5132 in Fontcoberta and the GIV-6703 in the Quart-Madremanya section. The BV-4031 between Pobla de Lillet and Castellar de n'Hug also remains closed.
In addition, the following are recorded significant traffic disruptions on other roads due to obstacles on the road, such as the GI-554 in Vilademuls, the GI-534 between Vilobà d'Onyar and Aiguaviva, or different sections of the GIV-5122, GIP-5237, GIP-5126 and GIV-6024 in municipalities such as Cabanelles, Pontós or Cabanes, as well as the GIV-6701 between Sant Martà Vell and Madremanya.
Alongside the wind, the arrival of cold air is leaving snowfall in the Pyrenees and Pre-PyreneesThe snow level, which initially stood at around 1.400 meters, is dropping as the hours pass to about 600 meters in some Pyrenean valleys, with thicknesses that can exceed 20 centimeters above 1.200 meters.
This situation has forced us to adopt specific restrictions on heavy traffic The N-260 is closed near Montferrer i Castellbò (Lleida), and mountain roads such as the BV-4031 at Coll de la Creueta and the BV-4024 at Coll de Pal remain closed due to snow accumulation. The use of snow chains is mandatory on mountain passes such as the Cantó (N-260), the Bonaigua (C-28), and the access road to Pla de Beret (C-142b).
Snowfall, polar air and very cloudy skies in the northern Iberian Peninsula
The red alert for wind in Catalonia cannot be understood without the general meteorological context. Active front sweeps across the peninsula and Balearic Islands From west to east, followed by a mass of polar air. This pattern is bringing very cloudy or overcast skies to much of northern Spain and the western Mediterranean islands.
They wait persistent rainfall In Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, the Pyrenees, and the Balearic Islands, as well as in areas of the Iberian and Central mountain ranges. In the interior of the Cantabrian area, the rain may be more persistent, while in the rest of the country, light showers will alternate with sunny spells throughout the day.
Snow will fall in the north of the Pyrenees from 800-1.000 metersThe most significant accumulations are expected in this area, and to a lesser extent above 1.000-1.400 meters in other mountain ranges of the northern half of the country. Aemet forecasts significant snow depths in the Pyrenees, both Catalan and Aragonese, and in parts of the Cantabrian Mountains.
In places like the Aran Valley or the Lleida Pyrenees, the snow level can drop to 600 meters during the afternoon, with More than 10 centimeters of snow in 24 hours above 1.000 meters. These snowfalls, combined with the wind, favor the formation of blizzards that complicate transit through mountain passes and access roads to ski resorts.
In the Canary Islands, the episode is also being felt, although more mildly: the archipelago is experiencing Partly cloudy and light rain in the north of the larger islands, accompanied by moderate trade winds with intervals of strong winds in exposed areas.
Stormy seas and red alert in the Empordà and Balearic Islands
The strong winds in Catalonia go hand in hand with a episode of very rough seasEspecially in the Empordà region and around the Balearic Islands. Aemet maintains significant warnings for coastal phenomena on the Girona coast and in the archipelago, where waves are reaching unusual heights.
On the Girona coast, especially between Cap de Creus and Cap de Begur, the following are expected Waves between 4 and 7 meterswith maximums that could reach 11 or 12 meters in the Empordà region. The north wind, up to force 9 at sea, generates a strong swell that increases the risk on seafront promenades, breakwaters and marinas.
In the Balearic Islands, the situation is also very delicate. Menorca is under very high level weather alert Due to wind and waves, with gusts near 120 km/h and a maximum wave at the entrance to the port of Mahón of almost 13 meters high. This combination has led the authorities to close the ports of Mahón and Ciutadella and cancel maritime connections with Alcúdia and Barcelona.
The Ciutadella City Council has recorded dozens of incidents related to the wind: fallen trees, fences, containers and metal sheetsas well as the closure of access to port areas. Activities at sports centers have also been suspended and the municipal Emergency Plan has been activated.
To warn the population of the risk in maritime and coastal areas, a Mass ES-Alert message in MenorcaThey emphasized the need to avoid approaching breakwaters, exposed viewpoints, and areas where waves can overwhelm walls and railings, as well as exercising extreme caution when traveling.
Strong winds in the northeast, temperature changes and the rest of Spain
Across the country, the day is dominated by the North and northwest windsIn much of the interior of the peninsula it blows with moderate intensity, but in the eastern half and in coastal areas of the northeast it strengthens with very strong gusts, especially in high areas and more exposed capes.
On the southern coast of Tarragona, the following are expected: very intense gustsMeanwhile, the tramontana wind blows with particular force in the Empordà region and the northern Balearic Islands. In the Alboran Sea, moderate westerly winds prevail, with stronger gusts near the Strait of Gibraltar, and in the Canary Islands, the moderate trade winds persist with strong gusts on the summits and in the channels between the islands.
Temperatures show contrasting behavior: Maximum temperatures rise in the western half of the peninsula and in some parts of the far northeast, but they decrease in other inland areas and in the Balearic Islands, with more marked decreases in the Pyrenees and the Iberian System due to the entry of cold air.
While in the south of the peninsula cities like Seville or Huelva are experiencing temperatures around 22-25ºC and enjoying an almost spring-like atmosphere, the northeast is facing winter wind chill due to the effect of wind and snow. Minimum temperatures tend to rise slightly in Galicia, the Cantabrian coast and the southwest, and fall in much of the interior and in the Balearic archipelago.
In the rest of the peninsula, the day is divided between cloudy and clear skiesGalicia and the Cantabrian coast will continue to experience frequent rainfall, while in other regions the rain will decrease as the day progresses and clear skies prevail, although the wind will continue to be the most prominent phenomenon in the northeast.
The episode of Red alert for wind in Catalonia This illustrates the complexity of the current weather situation in Spain: a strong pressure gradient has triggered hurricane-force gusts in the Pyrenees and the Girona coast, forced the activation of maximum alerts, caused incidents on roads, the electricity network and urban environments and unleashed a significant maritime storm in the Empordà and the Balearic Islands, all in contrast to a much milder environment in the southern peninsula.
