Heavy Snowfall Hits Andorra with Alerts and Road Restrictions

Andorra has seen heavy snowfall on Monday, with up to 10 centimetres accumulating above 1,500 metres following intense overnight falls across nearly all regions. The snow is expected to ease by midday, though the snow level could drop to around 1,100 metres later, reducing build-up in lower areas.

An orange alert from Sunday had signalled widespread snow risks, including up to 30 centimetres at 1,000 metres and 40 centimetres higher up. Deteriorating road conditions have led to calls for driver caution, yellow-phase restrictions on the CG2, CG3 and CG4 roads to Encamp and La Massana, and mandatory snow chains or winter tyres on the RN22 into France.

A yellow snow alert is now in force from midnight until Friday morning countrywide, with Christmas Day bringing falls to all elevations early, before the snow level rises to 1,200-1,400 metres through the day. Further drops are likely on St Stephen's Day morning, yielding up to 5 centimetres in valley floors, 15 centimetres at 2,000 metres and 25 centimetres on peaks. A yellow avalanche alert persists through Friday in northern zones.

For Wednesday, a north-easterly flow promises light morning showers clearing in the afternoon. Maximum temperatures will reach 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 predictions dipping to -8°C there. St Stephen's Day may see an east wind sustaining 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.

Regional forecasts, including from Meteocat, point to snow down to 400 metres across the Pyrenees over the holidays amid strong east winds.