Civil Protection has activated the VENTCAT alert phase in Catalonia due to the forecast of a strong wind episode that will start on Saturday night, intensify on Sunday, and last until Monday. The warning mainly affects the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, although during Sunday it will also extend to northeastern regions, especially in the Girona demarcation, and may reach points of the coast and pre-coast of Camp de Tarragona.
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia forecasts north component wind from Saturday. The most intense gusts are expected at high and medium altitudes, with values that will exceed the warning threshold of more than 90 km/h. In some points the danger level may increase, while in inhabited areas of the northeast, especially on Sunday at noon, gusts of between 60 and 70 km/h may be recorded.
Girona and the Pyrenees, in the center of the episode
The forecast places the main impact in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees during the start of the wind storm. As Sunday progresses, the episode will gain extension towards the Catalan northeast, with special incidence in the Girona regions. Affectation is also contemplated in stretches of the coast and pre-coast of Camp de Tarragona.
The wind will also arrive accompanied by blizzard in high altitudes of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. This situation will reduce visibility and may hinder mobility in mountain areas, especially in the most exposed points and on high-altitude roads.
Pre-alert for snowfalls in Val d'Aran, Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça
In parallel, Civil Protection has activated the pre-alert of the Neucat plan due to the forecast of snowfalls on the northern slope of the Pyrenees starting Saturday night and during Sunday. The measure focuses especially on the Val d'Aran, the north of Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça, regions of the western Pyrenees where the most significant episode is expected.
The snow warning from the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya will be in effect from Saturday at 7:00 p.m. until Sunday at 8:00 p.m. The snow level will start around 1,400 meters, but will quickly drop to 600 meters. Above 900 meters, the expected accumulation exceeds 10 centimeters and in the highest elevations of the Pyrenees, between 30 and 40 centimeters of snow could be reached throughout the entire episode.
Moderate risk in the Western Pyrenees
The snow warning threshold will be exceeded in Val d'Aran and in the north of Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça. The risk of snowfall is set at 3 out of 6 in Val d'Aran and 2 out of 6 in Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça, on a weekend marked by the combination of snow, blizzard, and intense wind.
With this scenario, the monitoring of the meteorological evolution will be key between Saturday night and Monday, especially in the Pyrenees, in the regions of Girona and in the points of Camp de Tarragona where the wind can also leave notable gusts.