Snow Disrupts Pyrenees Roads, Chains Mandatory on Key Passes
Heavy snow has halted traffic in Val d'Aran, Pallars Sobirà, and Alt Urgell, forcing chains on mountain routes and turning back a school bus.
Key Points
- Chains required on Port de la Bonaigua, Port del Cantó, Pla de Beret, Tuixent underpasses, and Josa i Tuixent access.
- School bus from Murcia turned back at Port del Cantó due to snow; trucks banned.
- Rubió drivers fitting chains at 1,687m, Catalonia's highest village.
- NEUCAT alert for heavy Eastern Pyrenees snow Tuesday-Wednesday; high avalanche risk outside ski areas.
Snow has disrupted traffic on several roads in the Val d'Aran, Pallars Sobirà and Alt Urgell regions, with chains now mandatory on key mountain passes.
At Port del Cantó on the N-260, a bus carrying schoolchildren from Murcia turned back during an excursion from Espot to the Olympic canal in La Seu d'Urgell. The driver opted to return to the hotel for safety reasons after encountering unexpected snow. Trucks are also banned from the pass, while drivers in Rubió—the highest village in Catalonia at 1,687 metres—have stopped to fit chains before attempting the crossing.
Chains are required across five routes: Port de la Bonaigua on the C-28; Port del Cantó; Pla de Beret on the C-142b; the Tuixent underpasses on the C-462; and access to Josa i Tuixent on the C-563.
The NEUCAT emergency plan for snow remains on alert due to forecasts of heavy snowfall in the Eastern Pyrenees on Tuesday and Wednesday, particularly in Ripollès where snow levels could drop to 1,200-1,400 metres. High avalanche risk prompted authorities to advise against activities outside ski slopes and controlled areas.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: