Andorra Blanketed in Christmas Day Snowfall Boosting Ski Resorts

Andorra woke to widespread snowfall on Christmas Day, blanketing valleys and mountains in a fresh layer of snow that has created ideal conditions for ski resorts. The Meteorological Service reports that early morning falls reached all elevations, with the snow line holding low through the morning before rising to around 1,300 metres in the afternoon after a brief pause.

Monday's heavy overnight snow had already dumped up to 10 centimetres above 1,500 metres, prompting an orange alert from Sunday for risks of 30 centimetres at 1,000 metres and 40 centimetres higher up. Road authorities continue to enforce yellow-phase restrictions on the CG2, CG3 and CG4 routes to Encamp and La Massana, with snow chains or winter tyres mandatory on the RN22 into France.

A yellow snow alert remains active from midnight until Friday morning across the Principat, covering expected accumulations of up to 5 centimetres in valley floors, 15 centimetres at 2,000 metres and 25 centimetres on peaks, particularly with a likely drop in the snow line on St Stephen's Day morning. A yellow avalanche alert persists through Friday in northern areas.

For Wednesday, a north-easterly flow will bring light morning showers clearing by afternoon, with highs of 11°C in Andorra la Vella, 8°C at 1,500 metres and -3°C at Pas de la Casa. Overnight lows are forecast at 0°C in the capital, -2°C at 1,500 metres and -6°C at Pas de la Casa, with some models indicating -8°C there. On St Stephen's Day, an easterly wind may sustain showers at slightly higher levels, with minima of 1°C in Andorra la Vella, -1°C at 1,500 metres and -6°C at Pas de la Casa.

Meteocat forecasts snow down to 400 metres across the Pyrenees over the holidays, driven by strong easterly winds. Ski domains have opened nearly 100% of pistes, boosted by recent and today's falls. Mobility services remind drivers that winter equipment is obligatory nationwide.