First snowflakes in the Pyrenees hint at ski season and bring first signs of winter

Residents of the Pyrenees are getting a taste of winter as the first snowflakes have started to fall. On Wednesday morning, Port Ainé in Pallars Sobirà county recorded between five and ten centimeters of snow alongside a significant temperature drop. 

Snowplows were deployed to clear roads, and salt was spread to prevent ice formation. 

Snow was also visible at various ski resorts, from Boí Taüll to Port del Comte.

Ski resorts get ready

As the ski season approaches, Baqueira Beret has announced new additions to mark its 60th winter season. Resort organizers have revamped several routes to improve the skiing experience, adding three new slopes for a total of 122. 

In the Baqueira 1,500 area, they have upgraded access to cable cars and added an information center and a shop where visitors can buy or rent ski equipment. 

Baqueira Beret expects to open on November 30 and remain open until April 21.

Ski resorts managed by the Catalan government’s railway company, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC), are also scheduled to open on the last weekend of November. Authorities anticipate more than 780,000 visitors this winter season. 

These FGC-managed resorts include La Molina, Vall de Núria, Vallter, Espot, and Port Ainé, which together offer 189 kilometers of alpine slopes and 250 kilometers of Nordic ski trails.

For the second consecutive year, FGC will use an innovative and sustainable artificial snow technique to reduce water and energy consumption.

Last year, the resorts in the Lleida province, which include Baqueira Beret, Boí Taüll, Port Ainé, Espot, Port del Comte, and Tavascan, recorded the third-highest season in visitor numbers, with almost 1.5 million tickets sold. 

Grandvalira, in Andorra, also plans to open on November 30, with an expected closing around April 20, although this will depend on weather conditions.