Catalonia covered in snow
Almost all of Catalonia was covered in a blanket of snow on Thursday morning. The Siberian cold front affecting the entire European continent arrived in Catalonia midweek. All emergency services have been put on alert, but no major incidences have occurred. However, almost 900 schools were forced to close their doors at noon on Thursday and school transport in some counties has been suspended on Friday as a precautionary measure.
Barcelona (ACN).- On Thursday morning, snow covered places not accustomed to such wintry conditions throughout Catalonia, such as the beaches of Blanes on the Costa Brava. It snowed almost everywhere in Catalonia, including some parts of the city of Barcelona and the Catalan coast. The falls of snow have been small in most of the country with most places not seeing it stick or only for a couple of hours. However, in some counties of central Catalonia snow has covered the ground. Even in the Catalan Pyrenees, where snow is a regular occurrence, residents have been shocked by the intense cold. In fact, the entire Catalan territory is being affected by the extremely low temperatures. The Siberian cold snap affecting the entire European continent has finally arrived in the Western Mediterranean, where coastal towns may experience temperatures as low as -7º, inland areas could fall to -15º and in higher altitudes might drop to -25º. All emergency services have been put on alert since Wednesday evening, as the extremely low temperatures might affect transportation and basic services due to ice formation, and some people such as elders, babies or homeless might be at risk. Precautionary measures have been taken regarding elders and homeless. Furthermore, snowfalls could affect areas where snow is a rare occurrence. These precautions forced the Catalan Government and some municipalities to close 863 schools on Thursday noon throughout Catalonia, as school transport was still guaranteed. On Friday, schools were expected to open their doors, but school transport has been suspended in north-eastern Catalonia. The emergency plan will last all day Friday and through the weekend.
Extremely low temperatures
The cold wave affecting Europe has brought extremely low temperatures to Catalonia. Temperatures will drop back on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Catalan Pyrenees are expected to have lowest temperatures ranging from between -25º and -20º Celsius on Friday and the weekend, and highs ranging only from -12º to -5º. In the rest of the Catalan territory temperatures are also expected to be extremely low. In Catalonia’s northern coast, temperatures will range from between -2º and -7º, and along the southern coast between -5º and 2º. In central and western Catalonia temperatures might range between low temperatures of -15º and -17º and maximums around -5º.