Catalonia Lifts Mobility Curbs But Suspends Schools, Services Amid Storm Nils Winds

Catalonia has lifted its mobility restrictions amid Storm Nils but will suspend schools, universities, sports activities, and non-urgent healthcare and social services until 8pm Thursday due to expected extreme winds with gusts over 108 km/h nationwide. Interior Minister Núria Parlon announced the measures, including a new Es-Alert message, as the VENTCAT plan remains in alert phase from midnight. She noted the peak intensity has passed but urged maximum caution, with saturated ground from recent rains raising risks of falling trees, lampposts, and bus shelters in urban areas. The 112 emergency line recorded 4,891 calls by early afternoon, while firefighters handled 2,172 incidents—mainly fallen trees and structural damage—in Barcelonès, Vallès Occidental, Baix Llobregat, and Tarragona. Nine people were hospitalized, three critically or seriously. Rail delays persisted, the AP-7 faced holdups near La Jonquera and other stretches like C-32 and N-II, seven roads stayed closed due to debris, and about 7,000 customers experienced power cuts. Parks, natural spaces, and urban gardens remain shut. A fresh wind episode is forecast for the weekend over the Pyrenees, Empordà, Tarragona, and Ebre areas with yellow and orange warnings. Meteorologist Santi Segalà described Thursday's event as the "first course" of a "first-category" storm affecting every comarca, with a second peak Saturday. A technical committee convened at 5pm to assess potential escalation to emergency status.

In La Seu d'Urgell, the council closed municipal facilities from midnight for safety, including the nursery, schools, cemetery, sports areas, parks, playgrounds, Parc Olímpic del Segre, Alàs path, and Racionero cloister, while cancelling outdoor events and limiting non-essential travel. The local hospital restricted to emergencies only.

Andorra's nationwide orange wind alert, extended until 3pm Thursday after valley gusts exceeded forecasts, warns of peaks up to 90 km/h in highlands. Firefighters managed 12-15 calls by midday, concentrated in Sant Julià de Lòria and Andorra la Vella. Key incidents included a tree blocking CG-1 at Avinguda Salou, where crews cleared the road and assisted a driver with minor anxiety after a three-vehicle incident; loosened facade panels and a Mercedes sign at Automòbils Pyrénées in Prat de la Tresa; a fallen Andorra Telecom pole on Fontaneda road; broken solar panels in Plaça de la Germandat; a lifted plastic roof at Santa Coloma school; secured tiles at Andorra la Vella school; and slabs in La Massana. Sant Julià saw the most activity, with communes urging residents to secure objects and avoid exposed areas amid level 3 avalanche risk.

Government spokesperson Guillem Casal dismissed widespread alarm, stressing impacts are limited to high elevations and ski areas like Pas de la Casa, where strong winds disrupted skiers, while valleys face minimal disruption—schools and services continue normally. National cross-country ski championships at La Rabassa were cancelled preventively, with no school ski trips scheduled. Parishes closed high-risk sites such as Canillo's Pla camping woods and Roc de Quer viewpoint. Civil protection advises avoiding vulnerable outdoor spots, especially mountains.