Andorra Activates Snow Prealert and Road Closures Amid Heavy Storm

Protecció Civil Andorra has activated a prealert for heavy snowfall and high avalanche risk, primarily in the north, as the Erminio weather system delivers widespread precipitation from Wednesday midday through Thursday morning. MeteoAndorra has issued a yellow alert for snow accumulation in the north starting Wednesday, escalating to orange at 6pm, with a yellow alert for the center from 9pm Wednesday into Thursday morning. Snow levels hover around 1,200m, rising briefly to 1,500-1,600m Wednesday evening before dropping overnight.

Road restrictions intensified amid the storm. Port d'Envalira on the CG-2 entered phase black and closed early Thursday morning due to heavy accumulation. Phase yellow mandates winter equipment from Canillo on CG-2, Arans on CG-3, Les Salines on CG-3, and Coll de la Botella on CG-4; heavy goods vehicles over 19 tonnes are banned. Access to Arcalís and Port de Cabús remains shut. French authorities closed RN-22 to Pas de la Casa from 7pm Wednesday after notifying Mobility head Daniel Boneta during joint meetings; it reopened around 10:20am Thursday after a 15-hour closure, though trucks over 19 tonnes are still prohibited on RN-22, RN-20, and RN-320, with equipment required for others. RN-320 at Coll de Puymorens is also restricted for heavy vehicles.

Pas de la Casa saw over 50cm of fresh snow overnight Wednesday-Thursday, paralyzing village operations. Encamp commune banned heavy vehicles over 19 tonnes from the urban core until midday Thursday for clearance work, with loading zones and outdoor parking unusable. Normal access resumed by early afternoon, including an exceptional restocking slot Friday 3 April from 10am-noon ahead of holidays. National bus services ran without interruption. COEX teams performed preventive avalanche blasts at Font and Soldeu, with accumulations reaching 70cm in 24 hours and 100cm over 48 hours above 2,500m.

Forecasts predict 40cm at 1,500m, 55cm at 2,000m, and over 65cm above 2,500m, fueled by north winds gusting 70-80km/h in valleys and 100-120km/h at peaks until Friday midday. This promotes unstable slabs, lifting avalanche danger to level 4/5 (high) in the north. Snow spreads nationwide until Thursday morning, then focuses north; conditions ease Thursday with clearer skies south and central, improving markedly Friday under an anticyclone with sun and highs to 14°C in Andorra la Vella.

Authorities advise avoiding non-essential travel, using public transport, monitoring roads via official apps, securing balcony objects against wind, and restricting mountain outings to ski pistes. Mobility expects 66,000 vehicles over Easter—47,700 via Spain, 18,300 via France—peaking Thursday-Friday above 12,000 daily, mainly Spanish border. All departments including MeteoAndorra, Protecció Civil, Mobility, COEX, and emergency services monitor developments.