Strong winds, rain and snow to hit Catalonia until Wednesday

 

Monday began with a continuation of the strong winds that began sweeping the country on Sunday, with forecasts suggesting that the blustery weather will go on until Wednesday.

Yet, the Catalan meteorology service also said on Monday that along with the strong winds will come rain and snow, especially on Tuesday, in particular affecting coastal areas. 

The wind was particularly strong on Sunday night, affecting above all the east of Catalonia, with wind speeds of around 100 km/h registered in towns along the coast.

In Cabrils, on the Maresme coast north of Barcelona, for example, a wind speed of 116 km/h was registered, the strongest recorded in almost 13 years.

Meanwhile, at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona, a wind speed of 104 km/h was registered, which is the highest in the city in the past eight years.

The heavy winds also caused high waves along the coast, with the largest measuring 10 meters at the Begur headland in the north, and eight-meter waves in Tarragona, in the south. 

Public advised to avoid parks and beaches

With the wind set to continue, the civil protection agency advised people to steer clear of public parks or gardens, many of which have been closed, as well as beaches and seafront promenades.

On Monday afternoon, the emergency services said they had received over two thousand calls to report incidents related to the wind, with the fire service called out over 600 times on Sunday.

One example of an incident on Sunday night saw a palm tree in the Maresme city of Mataró fall on top of a car, injuring the two people inside.

Classes were canceled around Catalonia, with some 3,300 students remaining at home, as many schools around the country closed or school bus routes were canceled.

In Maresme, one of the areas most affected by the bad weather, many local authorities closed schools, while the Mataró authorities call on sports clubs and other organisations to cancel any outdoor activities.

The wind, along with snow and ice, also affected transport, with a dozen roads closed. For example, trees knocked over by wind meant the C-17 motorway was closed for a while on Monday morning at Garriga, in the north.

Week begins with snow in some parts

A well as the strong winds, Monday also snow falling in a number of places around Catalonia, such as in the areas of Terres de l'Ebre, Empordà and Catalunya Central. 

The towns of Tivissa (Ribera d'Ebre), Castellcir (Moianès), Sant Feliu de Pallerols (Garrotxa), l'Espolla (Alt Empordà) and Roquetes (Baix Ebre) all woke up to snow.

Snow also fell on Monday morning in Falset (Priorat), Moià (Moianès), Pujalt (Anoia), Granadella (Les Garrigues), Espinelves (Osona) and Sant Pau de Segúries (Ripollès).

Meanwhile, the Vallter 2.000 and Vall de Núria ski resorts closed their doors as a precaution, after "strong winds and a danger of avalanches" was forecast, along with 2.5 meters of snow in the next 48 hours.