Weather over Pyrenees April 15,2023

[Diane2023]

Hello Again
How can I check the weather in the Pyrenees? I’m suppose to start my walk from st jean pied de port this Saturday April 15th 2023 and my app says 70% chance of rain in St Jean . Is that also the chance of rain I should expect in the Pyrenees? Sunday it says Sunny no rain . Im currently trying to chance my reservation in Roncesvalles
I really don’t want to walk over Pyrenees in the rain for 5 hours since it’not suppose to stop until 2:30 pm
Thank you

 

[Vacajoe]

There is a storm hitting this area over the next few days, but the forecast is always in flux because of the combination of high altitude and being near the coast. Always expect rain during these Spring months, plus the possibility of snow and wind.

If you change your reservation, you run the risk of simply walking in the rain on another day.

 

[Kathar1na]

my app says 70% chance of rain in St Jean . Is that also the chance of rain I should expect in the Pyrenees?

Well, my app says today, Thursday, this for Saturday (and it is not for the whole of the Pyrenees but for the Bentarte pass which is on the higher part of the Route Napoleon and which is probably your question):

On Saturday it will be cloudy and rainy. The sun will not be visible. A very high chance of precipitation near 90% is forecast. Temperatures peaking at 5 °C. At night and for the afternoon blows a light breeze (7 to 12 km/h). Before noon light air is noticeable (1 to 7 km/h). Gusts to 65 km/h are possible. … The weather forecast for Collado de Bentarte for Saturday can be accurate in parts but deviations are expected. Check again for latest updates.​

My app also has a visual for the currently expected cloud/fog cover on Saturday for the pass and its surroundings: very dense, lasting nearly all day, and very low, reaching the ground. IOW, up there it will be cold, and wet, and you can’t see a thing. However: Buen Camino!

 

[J Willhaus]

Check the day before and you can always walk the other Valcarlos route if it is not safe to walk the higher route. Stay safe!

 

[Kathar1na]

Iraty webcam, Thursday, 13 April 2023, 14:40. Same altitude as the passes on Valcarlos and Napoleon routes and about 20 km to the east. Low visibility, some fresh snow. According to weather app, temperature around freezing point today, felt temperature around -8 °C. PS: Of course, it was already known yesterday that the snowfall line is expected to sink to 1000 metres so this will not come as a surprise to any pilgrim in SJPP and in Roncesvalles and in between …

Current forecast for the 15th: similar weather, except less snow and more rain.

 

[naplesdon]

The adage often used to describe why Pays Basque is so green. It rains all of the time there.

 

[Kathar1na]

La nieve vuelve a los Pirineos

Vídeo: La nieve vuelve a los Pirineos el 13 de abril de 2023. Roncesvalles y el alto de Ibañeta se han cubierto de una fina capa blanca. Los peregrinos han tenido que comenzar el camino hoy con un tiempo algo desapacible.

www.eitb.eus

News video from today. Ibañeta pass (on Valcarlos and Napoleon routes), Roncesvalles, pilgrims, pilgrim footsteps in the snow.

 

[trecile]

Here's the forecast for Collado de Bentarte that @Kathar1na mentioned

14 Day Weather Collado de Bentarte - meteoblue

The professional 14-day weather trend for Collado de Bentarte. Showing the uncertainty and reliability of the weather forecast.

www.meteoblue.com

 

[Bradypus]

A post today on the Facebook page of the SJPDP pilgrim office showing pilgrims walking in snow.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/818222641542543/permalink/6493384130693004/?sfnsn=scwspmo&ref=share

 

[JustJack]

Those photos/video are a great reference for anyone asking if they need to bring a sleeping bag this time of year... I saw to my dismay yesterday on my weather app that it was snowing in Roncesvalles. And noticed that the temperatures all along the CF were quite cold (8-10 degrees). This is after being lulled into a false sense of security about a week ago when I was seeing temperatures up to 20 degrees in some parts.

 

[Kathar1na]

Conversation on the Facebook page of the Pilgrim Welcome Office in SJPP, 2 hours ago (translated into English):

Question from hospitaleros further away:
Is it true that the Pyrenees are closed today?

Answer from pilgrim office:
The Pyrenees are not closed but the weather is bad.

 

[Kathar1na]

The weather forecast for Collado de Bentarte for Saturday can be accurate in parts but deviations are expected. Check again for latest updates.

The predictability factor for tomorrow Saturday has improved in the meantime in my preferred weather app. It now says: The weather forecast for Collado de Bentarte for Saturday is likely to be accurate.

IOW, it is likely to rain on the pass on the Route Napoleon and in the vicinity, and at times it is likely to be a lot of rain, and it is unlikely to be warm rain, and you are very unlikely to see the snow-covered tops of the higher Pyrenees further away nor the lush green valleys nearby. Not sure about the horses and the sheep - they may be frolicking less than they do when the weather is better. Buen Camino!

 

[Ianinam]

I am in the albergue of Roncesvalles at the moment. Yesterday morning we had snow in the Pyrenees, and the rest of the day pouring rain. Today rain again, pilgrims arrive in the albergue cold and wet, so be prepared with poncho and adequate rain protection for your backpack!

 

[Bradypus]

@Ianinam Is the Roncesvalles albergue very busy? I saw photos on Facebook yesterday of quite large numbers waiting for the train in Bayonne and outside the SJPDP pilgrim office.

 

[Ianinam]

It is quite busy and will be busier tomorrow. Due to the strikes in France there were no trains last Thursday, so many people had to rebook
their treinticket.

 

[Diane2023]

@Ianinam Is the Roncesvalles albergue very busy? I saw photos on Facebook yesterday of quite large numbers waiting for the train in Bayonne and outside the SJPDP pilgrim office.

All I can say is that all the direct trains to Bayonne from Paris were sold out yesterday . I had to take a train de-tour through Bordeaux and then to Biarritz then to Bayonne 8 hours later arrived to st jean pied de port Line wasn’t bad at 3 pm for Pilgram offices Rained all afternoon off and on sprinkles cloud skies. Glad I brought my. Rain pants !

 

[Diane2023]

Hello Again
How can I check the weather in the Pyrenees? I’m suppose to start my walk from st jean pied de port this Saturday April 15th 2023 and my app says 70% chance of rain in St Jean . Is that also the chance of rain I should expect in the Pyrenees? Sunday it says Sunny no rain . Im currently trying to chance my reservation in Roncesvalles
I really don’t want to walk over Pyrenees in the rain for 5 hours since it’not suppose to stop until 2:30 pm
Thank you

Hi Again !
Made it to St Jean pied de port and glad I brought my rain pants Rain all day off and on sprinkles and cloud my skies but not too cold at least in the village . I decided to start the Pyrenees on Sunday when the sun is suppose to appear Attached are some photos of my first day ! Love it!

 

[alexwalker]

At sea we have a saying: "If in doubt, act as if there is no doubt." It has saved many lives. Choose wisely.
Stay safe, and Buen Camino.

 

[Kathar1na]

Hi again, @Diane2023. I was wondering what you had decided to do .

Great photos + video clip! Just curious: are you using an app to create these compositions?

I personally think that you made a good decision by waiting until tomorrow. People cross over to Roncesvalles in all kinds of weather but I personally think why walk higher than necessary in miserable weather (i.e. Napoleon instead of Valcarlos) when there is nothing to see up there? The best - far - view is near the statue of the Virgin Mary. Higher up the view to the distant Pyrenean mountain tops are obscured by the nearby hills. Buen Camino!

 

[Diane2023]

Hi again, @Diane2023. I was wondering what you had decided to do .

Great photos + video clip! Just curious: are you using an app to create these compositions?

I personally think that you made a good decision by waiting until tomorrow. People cross over to Roncesvalles in all kinds of weather but I personally think why walk higher than necessary in miserable weather (i.e. Napoleon instead of Valcarlos) when there is nothing to see up there? The best - far - view is near the statue of the Virgin Mary. Higher up the view to the distant Pyrenean mountain tops are obscured by the nearby hills. Buen Camino!

Thank you ! The app is called PicFrame