The wind exceeds 160 km/h and causes some incidents

BarcelonaThe wind is particularly affecting the far north of the country, as predicted, with gusts exceeding 120 km/h in the high Pyrenees and approaching 170 km/h in the northernmost part of the Alt Empordà region. Up until midday on Sunday, notable readings included 167.4 km/h at Portbou-coll dels Belitres (Alt Empordà), 161.6 km/h at the Queralt Sanctuary (Berguedà), and 132.1 km/h at Tosa d'Alp in Cerdanya. These figures were recorded by automatic weather stations of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia located in the regions where Civil Protection issued an ES-Alert yesterday (Alt Empordà, Berguedà, Ripollès, and Cerdanya) due to the windstorm. In the case of the 161.6 km/h at the Sanctuary of Queralt, this is the most intense gust of wind since 2014, and in Navata (Alt Empordà) the maximum gust of the 11 years of data from the station has been reached (123.1 km/h).

The 112 emergency hotline received 340 calls related to the wind and snowstorm up to 10:00 AM, most of them from the Gironès (73), Ripollès (69), Alt Empordà (44), and Baix Empordà (44) regions. Meanwhile, the Generalitat Fire Department responded to more than 750 calls related to the strong winds since midnight, primarily in the Girona region (344). Notable incidents included the removal of a large fallen tree in Sant Joan de les Abadesses (Ripollès) and a partially collapsed scaffolding structure on Viena Street in Roses (Alt Empordà). The SEM (Emergency Medical Service) treated three people injured by falling objects or branches in public areas. Firefighters have reinforced their deployment in the Girona Emergency Region with four crews from other regions, including members of the Active Forest Fire Prevention Team (EPAF). Four roads are closed due to fallen trees.

The strong winds in the Ripollès, Berguedà, Alt Empordà, and northern Cerdanya regions are affecting traffic on the road network this Sunday, closing four roads due to fallen trees and other debris. These are the N-260 in Ribes de Freser towards the Toses pass; the GIV-4714 in Campelles (Ripollès); the GIV-5265 in Vilallonga de Ter (Ripollès); and the GIV-5132 Fontcoberta (Pla de l'Estany), according to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT). The BV-4024 in the final section of the Pal pass is also closed due to the wind. Snow is also causing traffic problems.

Meanwhile, the snowfall between yesterday and today, along with the blizzard, has closed the BV-4031 at the Creueta pass and is requiring the use of snow chains on the N-260 at the Cantó pass (with restrictions for trucks), the C-28 at the Bonaigua pass, and the C-142b to access Pla de Beret. Snow and ice on the road are also complicating traffic on the C-16 between Bellver de Cerdanya and Bagà, the C-162 between Río and Fontanals de Cerdanya, and the N-230 between Vilaller and Vielha, with restrictions for articulated vehicles.