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Andorra Stabilizes into Spring Weather Amid Persistent Snow and Avalanche Alerts

Yellow alerts for snow and avalanches continue through Saturday at level 4/5, with roads reopening but winter gear required and Easter traffic queues building, as an anticyclone promises sunny stability ahead.

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AltaveuDiari d'AndorraARAEl PeriòdicBon Dia

Key Points

  • Yellow snow and avalanche alerts persist through Saturday at level 4/5 amid unstable snowpack.
  • Roads reopening with winter gear required; Easter traffic queues building on CG-1.
  • Recent snow dumps up to 100cm at summits; wind gusts reached 120km/h.
  • Anticyclone forecast brings sunny stability with highs of 14-20°C from Friday.

**Andorra Enjoys Stable Spring Weather Amid Ongoing Avalanche and Snow Alerts**

Andorra's weather has stabilised into spring-like conditions with predominant sunshine, though a nationwide yellow alert for snow accumulation persists until Friday night and avalanche risks remain elevated due to recent deposits and rising temperatures. MeteoAndorra reports light snow showers possible above 1,200m in northern parishes overnight Thursday, with abundant clouds there contrasting clearer skies elsewhere. Minimum temperatures hit 3-5°C and maxima reached 9-21°C in Andorra la Vella on Thursday, improving further into the weekend.

A yellow wind alert covered the entire Principat until 6am Friday, with north winds gusting up to 100km/h at peaks after earlier highs of 120km/h. The orange avalanche alert in northern areas lifted at 6pm Thursday, replaced by a yellow alert through Saturday at level 4 out of 5, driven by wind slabs. New concerns have emerged over unstable snowpack from recent accumulations—such as 48cm in Vall del Riu and 44cm in Solana—overlying soft layers, creating variable conditions near ridges. Experts warn that midday warming and solar radiation could trigger medium-sized dry or wet avalanches, especially on sun-exposed slopes, with hidden wind slabs complicating risk assessment in areas like Sorteny, Comapedrosa, and Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror.

Roads have largely reopened after heavy snow from the Erminio front, which dumped 40cm at 1,500m, 55cm at 2,000m, 65cm+ above 2,500m, and up to 100cm over 48 hours at summits. Port d'Envalira on CG-2, Arcalís, Port de Cabús, and French border routes RN-22 to Pas de la Casa and RN-20 are now accessible, though yellow-phase winter equipment remains required on key stretches like CG-2 from Incles and CG-3, CG-4. Police checks caused queues near Soldeu, Canillo, and Incles; heavy goods vehicles over 19 tonnes stay banned nationwide.

Easter travel pressures continue, with outbound queues on CG-1 southbound toward La Farga de Moles stretching four kilometres by Thursday afternoon, expected to peak Friday at over 12,000 vehicles daily. Mobility's five-day plan anticipates 66,000 inbound vehicles, with double lanes at borders and enhanced roundabouts easing flows. Encamp lifted heavy vehicle curbs by Thursday evening, adding restocking windows Friday and Saturday.

An anticyclone brings sustained stability from Friday, with 14-20°C highs in Andorra la Vella, 10°C at 1,500m, light northeast breezes, full sun Saturday, and clouds Sunday afternoon. Protecció Civil urges avoiding non-essential mountain trips, using public transport, checking apps, and sticking to marked routes, with COEX conducting preventive blasts. Services remain on alert.

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Original Sources

This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: