Rodalies closes part of the R11 and R3 due to forecast of strong winds

BarcelonaPart of the R11 and R3 suburban lines will be cut off this Sunday morning due to the forecast of strong winds. The forecast is that the closure will last until 1 PM and will affect the R11 between Figueres and Portbou and the R3 between Vic and Ripoll. Renfe sources have pointed out that in both cases there will be an alternative bus service and that, depending on the evolution of the weather alerts, they will be making decisions about train traffic.

The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has issued a red alert affecting five regions due to the forecast that wind gusts could exceed 120 kilometers per hour this Sunday. For this reason, Civil Protection has activated the alert phase of the Ventcat emergency plan and this Saturday afternoon sent an ES-Alert message to mobile phones in Alt Empordà, Berguedà, Garrotxa, Ripollès, Solsonès, and northern Cerdanya. Strong winds are expected, and the alert requests that unnecessary travel and outdoor activities be avoided on Sunday.

The forecast for this Sunday is for widespread wind, but it will be most intense in these regions. The deputy director of Civil Protection, Imma Solé, explained that, in addition to the wind, a period of strong waves is expected, especially on the north coast, and snow, mainly in the western Pyrenees area. Regarding snowfall, accumulations of over 10 centimeters are possible at altitudes above 900 meters, especially in the Vall d'Aran and in the north of Alta Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà. At high altitudes, Solé assured that accumulations of 30 and 40 centimeters could be reached. She also warned that the snowfall could cause phenomena such as whirlwinds, which cause a very low temperature sensation, loss of visibility, and disorientation, for which reason she asked for "great vigilance" in mountain activities.

Firefighter Reinforcement

Given these forecasts, the Generalitat Firefighters have reinforced their deployment for Sunday, with more personnel available to deal with the foreseeable increase in simultaneous services due to the weather situation. In all emergency regions, there will be a reinforcement of staff in professional fire stations and control rooms, and volunteer fire stations will also be opened.

In the Girona demarcation, where a higher risk level is forecast, there will also be reinforcements among command staff and a higher reinforcement of firefighters is expected in the stations and the territorial control room. Reinforcements of the mountain Special Actions Group (GRAE) units from the La Seu d'Urgell and Olot bases and their commanders have also been activated, as well as personnel from the Forest Actions Group (GRAF) units.