First Snowfall of Season Covers Pas de la Casa as Andorra Snow Line Drops

Snow has begun falling at Andorra's highest elevations, with Pas de la Casa covered in white this afternoon in the first snowfall of the season. Videos recorded by residents showed the snowfall developing in the Encamp parish town, and the accumulation on the road surface has led the Mobility service to activate the yellow phase at the Port d'Envalira, where drivers must use special equipment.

According to the national meteorological service, the snow line will descend progressively from 1,700 metres to 1,500 metres and could even settle around 1,400 metres, reaching more areas of the country, although at lower altitudes precipitation will fall as rain or sleet. Temperatures are forecast to drop across the board, with minimums of -4°C at 1,500 metres and at Pas de la Casa.

Forecast fresh snow accumulations are 8 centimetres at 2,500 metres, 6 centimetres at 2,000 metres and 3 centimetres at 1,500 metres. Precipitation may continue through the first part of the night before skies tend to clear.

The meteorological service attributes the change to low pressure associated with a depression centred over the Pyrenees, which is expected to bring cloud cover from midday and light precipitation, particularly during the first half of the night. Winds will be light from the southwest.

Minimum temperatures for the day are forecast at 0°C in Andorra la Vella, -4°C at 1,500 metres and -4°C at Pas de la Casa. Maximums are expected to reach 10°C in Andorra la Vella, 9°C at 1,500 metres and -1°C at Pas de la Casa.