Yellow weather alert for snow in Navarra

[Bradypus]

Aemet - the Spanish state weather agency - has issued a yellow weather warning for snow predicted to fall below 700m in the Pyrenees and central areas of Navarra today. Well below the elevation of both the Route Napoleon and Valcarlos passes as well as Roncesvalles itself.

https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2...SPFOyaw8GtsRWdwic8ur_Ng_cJ4kBclRuHt9kVYEZbis0

 

[aliciag56]

Aemet - the Spanish state weather agency - has issued a yellow weather warning for snow predicted to fall below 700m in the Pyrenees and central areas of Navarra today. Well below the elevation of both the Route Napoleon and Valcarlos passes as well as Roncesvalles itself.

https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2...SPFOyaw8GtsRWdwic8ur_Ng_cJ4kBclRuHt9kVYEZbis0

I'm currently in monjardin having coffee. Trail to Los arcos dry but do see snow on hills

 

[aliciag56]

I'm currently in monjardin having coffee. Trail to Los arcos dry but do see snow on hills

Well there is light rain

 

[Deleted member 77020]

aliciag56, enjoy the coffee and snow. in Canada at present in the Niagara region intermittent rain weather otherwise seasonal.

 

[Kathar1na]

Camino Facebook groups had photos and videos of snow covered Camino Frances tracks yesterday (Sun 28 Oct 2018) and this morning: a real winter landscape on O Cebreiro and on both sides of the mountains (you can currently see it also on the webcam); a thinner layer of snow on the Col de Lepoeder near the Ibañeta hut on the Route Napoleon with dense fog, you can't see a thing. I also saw a photo showing snow on the road sign in Roncesvalles this morning (Mon 29 Oct) so there will now be more snow higher up. And it's colder now.

People express surprise that "it's snowing already". I don't think that cold snaps and snow in certain parts along the Camino Frances at the end of October are so unusual; I hope that current pilgrim-walkers are prepared for it.

 

[Kathar1na]

The local Spanish First Responders (called Bomberos in Spanish) tweeted this at 3:40 am local time on 29 Oct 2018: Condiciones invernales en el collado de #Lepoeder hoy no utilices esta ruta, Infórmate de otras opciones a más baja altura, which means don't walk the Route Napoleon today. The info appeared on the FB page of SJPP around lunch-time while @Bradypus' warning came a bit earlier around mid-morning. None of this, of course, had any chance to reach people who set out at 8:00 am today ... that's why I try to encourage people to get used to the idea to (also) get such information themselves in time from good and up to date weather services ... there is, of course, also the language barrier for many, so maybe familiarise yourselves a bit with it all beforehand.

PS: And also later this morning another tweet from the Bomberos de Navarra: #StJamesway Pilgrim pays attention!! Next Wednesday will close The #Lepoeder Pass (Route Napoleon) in St James way. Today it is not advisable to use this route @bomberos_na #Auritz #Burguete

 

[Bradypus]

A follow-up article today on yesterday's snow in Navarra - up to 10cm on the Valcarlos pass at Ibaneta. According to the website this is almost unprecedented in October. There is also a slideshow of photos in the article.

https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2...asta-10-cm-de-nieve-y-a-bajo-cero-en-el-norte

 

[Kathar1na]

According to the website this is almost unprecedented in October. There is also a slideshow of photos in the article.

El Pais, however, calls it "the worst snow in October in 11 years" and a spokesperson for the Spanish weather office Aemet says that episodes like this "are not extraordinary if we look at the long range" and that it was the worst snowfall in October since 2008.

And we all know of course that we must distinguish between weather and climate . This article from 30 October 2008 deals mainly with the snowfall in Catalonia but mentioned Navarra in a sentence or two.

Anyway, it's not the start of a long and harsh winter yet as this snow will be gone by tomorrow or so. Any bets that it will be another winter that is too mild and too dry?

 

[Bradypus]

Anyway, it's not the start of a long and harsh winter yet as this snow will be gone by tomorrow or so. Any bets that it will be another winter that is too mild and too dry?

For completely selfish reasons I hope you are right - at least for the next couple of weeks Flying to Santander on Thursday. Couple of days chugging along the north coast on the FEVE trains. Then the Camino Ingles and perhaps Muxia.

 

[Saint Mike II]

A follow-up article today on yesterday's snow in Navarra - up to 10cm on the Valcarlos pass at Ibaneta. According to the website this is almost unprecedented in October. There is also a slideshow of photos in the article.

https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2...asta-10-cm-de-nieve-y-a-bajo-cero-en-el-norte

Hope that couple on the tandem bike found somewhere warm and dry. I would not fancy trying to ride in that weather.

Thanks for the slide show. Cheers

 

[Stivandrer]

Camino Facebook groups had photos and videos of snow covered Camino Frances tracks yesterday (Sun 28 Oct 2018) and this morning: a real winter landscape on O Cebreiro and on both sides of the mountains (you can currently see it also on the webcam); a thinner layer of snow on the Col de Lepoeder near the Ibañeta hut on the Route Napoleon with dense fog, you can't see a thing. I also saw a photo showing snow on the road sign in Roncesvalles this morning (Mon 29 Oct) so there will now be more snow higher up. And it's colder now.

People express surprise that "it's snowing already". I don't think that cold snaps and snow in certain parts along the Camino Frances at the end of October are so unusual; I hope that current pilgrim-walkers are prepared for it.

Snaps, where, which town !?!? Gammel Dansk , maybe (hopeful)