Spain races to clear snow before cold snap freezes roads
After the worst snowstorm in decades, Spanish officials were racing on Sunday to clear the roads of snow before a cold snap transforms them into icy death traps.
Storm Filomena killed three people during its passage through Spain and kept emergency services workers and army snow ploughs busy through Saturday freeing 2,500 drivers trapped in their vehicles.
The storm also brought heavy rains before moving through eastern Spain into southern France.
Spain's weather forecasters AEMET predicted heavy frost overnight Sunday to Monday in large parts of Spain. In mountainous areas temperatures would drop below -10C, conditions that could last until Thursday, the agency added.
#PredicciónAEMET Índices de #CalidadDelAire previstos hoy y mañana https://t.co/ABlbBKdx5i pic.twitter.com/qyP0evX3VZ
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) January 10, 2021
"Our aim is to make the most of every minute before Monday when the drop in temperature happens," to clear the roads, Madrid's mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said late on Saturday.
"From then, until the end of the week, it's going to be very difficult to get about," he told Sexta television.
READ ALSO:
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UPDATED: Snowstorms leave three dead in Spain
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IN PICS: Skiers, snowboarders and a dogsled take to the streets of Madrid
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Madrid snowfall grounds flights and blocks roads
The capital Madrid and the surrounding region was one of the areas worst hit by the snow, with levels of snowfall not seen since 1971.
The army also had to clear the snow from Madrid airport, one of the regions worst hit by the snowstorm, which had forced the cancellation of flights from late Friday. They are not due to be reopened until Sunday afternoon at the earliest.
They also had to clear access to the city's hospitals, still struggling to cope with the country's coronavirus crisis.
Despite, the inconveniences, many in Madrid took advantage of the rare snowy conditions, building elaborate snowmen around the city, and having epic snowball fights.
GALLERY: More #snowmen of Madrid and a #snowbull outside the bullring at Las Ventas #MadridBajoLaNieve #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow (share pictures of your snowman with @TheLocalSpain) pic.twitter.com/2T2QXdmPax
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
GALLERY: More of our favourite #snowmen spotted in the streets of Madrid today. Share pictures of yours! #MadridBajoLaNieve #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/7TPsAqQDsE
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
GALLERY: Across Madrid today mysterious icy strangers have been appearing on sidewalks and street corners. Here's a look at #snowmen spotted in the streets of Madrid today #MadridBajoLaNieve #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/neiDRygqYo
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
Madrid's Gran Via today was the scene of an epic snowball battle interumpted briefly by a skier who swiftly became the target #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/cGsD4Y1ig1
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
A snowman outside the Cibeles Palace in central Madrid. Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP
The storm, through Friday and Saturday, left much of the country under dozens of centimetres of snow, an amount rarely experienced in Spain, blocking many major roads.
More than 700 major routes were still impassible Sunday morning said the government, with rail travel to and from Madrid also cancelled, at least until Sunday afternoon.
The authorities in the capital have closed the city's schools, colleges and universities at least until Wednesday.
As well as the Madrid region, the exceptional conditions hit another four regions -- Aragon, Valencia, Castilla La Mancha and Catalonia -- hard Saturday.
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#PredicciónAEMET Índices de #CalidadDelAire previstos hoy y mañana https://t.co/ABlbBKdx5i pic.twitter.com/qyP0evX3VZ
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) January 10, 2021
- UPDATED: Snowstorms leave three dead in Spain
- IN PICS: Skiers, snowboarders and a dogsled take to the streets of Madrid
- Madrid snowfall grounds flights and blocks roads
GALLERY: More #snowmen of Madrid and a #snowbull outside the bullring at Las Ventas #MadridBajoLaNieve #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow (share pictures of your snowman with @TheLocalSpain) pic.twitter.com/2T2QXdmPax
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
GALLERY: More of our favourite #snowmen spotted in the streets of Madrid today. Share pictures of yours! #MadridBajoLaNieve #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/7TPsAqQDsE
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
GALLERY: Across Madrid today mysterious icy strangers have been appearing on sidewalks and street corners. Here's a look at #snowmen spotted in the streets of Madrid today #MadridBajoLaNieve #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/neiDRygqYo
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
Madrid's Gran Via today was the scene of an epic snowball battle interumpted briefly by a skier who swiftly became the target #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/cGsD4Y1ig1
— The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
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