Catalonia under snow

Snow was falling in the whole of Catalonia in the wee hours and morning of Wednesday, disrupting traffic in around 70 roads in the country, with snow chains needed in around 30 of them. Snow settled in the Barcelona area, and even in the northern areas of the capital, which contributed to the disruption of the main roads accessing it in the morning peak hour. Authorities warned citizens who intend to drive to work to use extreme caution.

Traffic disruptions

Snow chains were needed on Wednesday morning in some major roads, including some parts of the C-13, C-16, C-25, C-37 and N-260 in central and northern Catalonia. Some parts of minor roads, such as the BV-1415, the GIV-5201 and the BV-2204, are closed. There are traffic jams in the AP-7 highway by Pont de Molins, Hostalric and La Jonquera, as well as in Barcelona’s both northern and southern rings.

Public transports and hospitals working

The Catalan Civil Protection service activated the emergency level of the operative for snow episodes. Authorities call citizens to restrict their mobility and avoid using private vehicles. With some minor exceptions, public transport is working without disruption, although school transport was suspended for Wednesday in the whole country. While universities of Vic and Girona suspended the lessons, the eight main hospitals are working normality. Until 9am, the emergency phone number 112 had received 2,379 calls.

 

 

Restriction of lorries

The circulation of lorries of more than 7.5 tons is still restricted in the whole traffic network, a measure in effect since Tuesday at 4pm, when the heavy snowfall had not started. This led to some complains from lorry drivers, but Civil Protection said on Wednesday morning that this unprecedented measure was key to avoid major disruptions. Red Cross brought blankets, food and drinks to around 150 lorry drivers stuck in Barcelona port and other areas because of the snow and the restriction.

Temperatures are only higher than 3 degrees in the southern edge of the country. Thus, snow can still reach the rest of Catalonia –even at 0 to 100 meters above sea level– until approximately noon, when thermometers are expected to rise and the snow will fall from around 1,500 meters above sea level. Yet at around 10.30am, the snow had become rain in most of the coastal towns.