Andorra Issues Yellow Alert for Arctic Cold on Three Kings Day

Andorra's Meteorological Service maintains a yellow alert for very low temperatures as an Arctic air mass brings negative readings across much of the Principality on Three Kings Day, Tuesday, January 6, with strong northerly winds worsening the chill.

The alert, issued amid perturbation Francis, covers risks from cold, snow, ice, and gusts, especially affecting parades and cavalcades. Forecasters predict nationwide negatives on Tuesday, including a felt temperature of -17°C during the Pas de la Casa procession. Monday's highs will reach 7°C in Andorra la Vella, 2°C at 1,500 meters, and -8°C at Pas de la Casa, with lows dropping to -1°C in the capital, -5°C mid-mountain, and -12°C in Encamp.

The weather shift began Saturday afternoon with overcast conditions, scattered morning drizzle, and evening showers, particularly heavier in high mountains where snow built up overnight. This improved ski slopes but brought unusual flurries to lower pre-Pyrenean zones, including central Catalonia, complicating access roads from areas like Segrià, Urgell, Berguedà, and Segarra due to ice formation from plummeting temperatures.

Sunday saw clouds thinning with sunny breaks, though northern winds strengthened, driving down minima. A late Tuesday front grazing the Pyrenees may add clouds and isolated northern snow flurries before clearing early night. Wednesday brings sunny intervals and slight daytime warming, despite low minima and scattered northern showers until midnight.

Monday starts cloudy but clears to mostly sunny, with cold air arriving by evening to set up the coldest days—Monday and Tuesday. No extreme events are expected Principality-wide, but the service and Civil Protection advise tracking updates, caution on mountain roads, and precautions for outdoor events around Three Kings Day.