Andorra Faces Snow and High Winds Over Constitution Day Weekend
Persistent winter weather brings snow to northern parishes, orange wind alert for Sunday gusts up to 140 km/h, and Civil Protection advises limiting.
Key Points
- Snow in northern parishes Saturday, line at 900m; yellow alert active.
- Orange wind alert Sunday: gusts to 100 km/h valleys, 140 km/h peaks.
- Temps: Sat highs <10°C capital, -4°C pass; Sun lows to -11°C.
- Civil Protection: Secure items, avoid trips/mountains, drive cautiously.
Andorra is experiencing persistent winter weather over the Constitution Day weekend, with snow in northern parishes Saturday, an orange wind alert for Sunday peaks, and Civil Protection urging residents to limit travel and outdoor activities.
Scattered showers began Friday evening after a stable day, intensifying overnight as the snow line fell from 2,000 metres to 1,200 metres by early Saturday. Northern parishes saw ongoing precipitation through the day, with the line dropping further to 900 metres amid sharp temperature declines. A yellow alert for snow accumulations remains active there, and showers could spread nationwide Saturday evening with strengthening northerly winds.
On Sunday, lighter snow persists around 900 metres, mainly in the north but extending to central and southern areas with reduced intensity. Winds will peak Sunday morning from a northern front-linked disturbance, prompting the orange alert for gusts up to 100 km/h in south-to-north valleys and over 140 km/h at high elevations. Civil Protection has triggered a pre-alert under its violent weather plan, warning of poor visibility from blowing snow in higher parishes and up to 20 cm of fresh snow above 2,000 metres. The strong northerly flow may carry snow nationwide overnight into Sunday, heightening the chill factor.
Saturday temperatures peaked below 10°C in Andorra la Vella, at 3°C at 1,500 metres, and -4°C at Pas de la Casa, with overnight lows of 4°C in the capital and -9°C at the pass. Sunday forecasts call for highs of 7°C in the capital, 3°C mid-altitude, and -4°C at the pass, with lows dropping to 2°C in the central valley and -11°C at Pas de la Casa.
Civil Protection recommends securing loose items on balconies and terraces, sealing windows and doors, avoiding unnecessary trips—particularly for vulnerable groups—and postponing mountain outings on the holiday Sunday. Drivers should exercise extra caution due to potential visibility issues in elevated areas.
Conditions ease Monday as the Gulf of Lion disturbance departs, bringing stable sunshine and warmer temperatures under Atlantic high pressure.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- ARA•
Previsió de fortes ventades a tot el país de cara a diumenge
- El Periòdic•
Protecció Civil activa la prealerta per ventades amb ratxes de fins a 140 km/h als cims i neu prevista
- Altaveu•
Activada una prealerta per fortes ventades durant aquest diumenge al matí
- Diari d'Andorra•
El vent s’intensificarà al Principat amb ràfegues que poden superar els 140 km/h als cims
- Diari d'Andorra•
Alerta taronja per fortes ventades al nord de Catalunya
- Altaveu•
Avís groc per neu al nord del Principat i fort vent a tot el país durant el cap de setmana
- Diari d'Andorra•
Neu per la Constitució i alerta per vent intens diumenge