First snowfall of the season hits Andorra, covering Pas de la Casa in white
Andorra's Mobility Department activates a yellow alert at the Envalira mountain pass as the snow line could drop to 1,400 metres in the coming hours
The first snowfall of the season has arrived in Andorra. Snowfall recorded on Tuesday afternoon, November 3, has begun covering the Principality's highest areas in white, particularly Pas de la Casa, where the first snow of the season has already left visible accumulations on streets and roads.
The mountain town, located in the parish of Encamp near the French border, has been among the first areas in the country to experience snowfall intense enough to transform the landscape.
Several videos recorded by local residents show snowflakes gradually covering streets, pavements and other surfaces throughout the town.
The arrival of snow confirms the change in weather conditions previously forecast by the Andorran Meteorological Service, which had warned of a significant drop in temperatures and the possibility of the snow line falling to 1,400 metres at certain points during the weather event.
Yellow alert activated at the Envalira mountain pass
The snowfall has also begun affecting traffic conditions on Andorra's mountain roads.
Andorra's Mobility Department has activated a yellow alert at the Envalira mountain pass due to snow accumulating on the road surface, requiring drivers to use appropriate winter equipment.
Motorists are advised to exercise particular caution on the highest sections of the road network, where low temperatures may contribute to the formation of ice.
Authorities have also reminded drivers that winter tyres or approved winter equipment have been mandatory in Andorra since November 1, in accordance with the country's seasonal road safety regulations.
The Envalira mountain pass, one of Andorra's highest road crossings, is particularly exposed to severe winter weather conditions.
Snow line could fall to 1,400 metres
According to forecasts from the Andorran Meteorological Service, the snow line is expected to continue dropping throughout the weather event.
Initially situated at approximately 1,700 metres, it is forecast to fall to 1,500 metres and could temporarily reach 1,400 metres.
This development could allow snowfall to reach other parts of the Principality beyond the highest mountain areas.
However, lower-altitude locations are expected to experience mainly rain or sleet, particularly in urban areas situated at the bottom of the valleys.
The changing conditions could bring the first wintry scenes of the season to several mountain communities across Andorra.
Temperatures could fall to -4°C, with up to eight centimetres of fresh snow
The weather event will also be accompanied by a significant drop in temperatures.
Forecasts indicate that minimum temperatures could fall to -4°C in Pas de la Casa and other exposed mountain areas, increasing the risk of icy conditions on roads and pedestrian surfaces.
The Andorran Meteorological Service has also provided estimates for fresh snowfall accumulations at different altitudes:
At 2,500 metres: up to 8 centimetres of fresh snow.
At 2,000 metres: up to 6 centimetres.
At 1,500 metres: up to 3 centimetres.
Snowfall could continue during the first part of the night before cloud cover gradually decreases and skies begin to clear.
The combination of falling temperatures, snowfall and possible ice formation means drivers travelling through mountainous areas should remain alert to changing road conditions.
Andorra welcomes its first taste of winter ahead of ski season
The arrival of the first snowfall marks the beginning of wintry weather conditions in the Andorran mountains, approximately one month before the country's ski resorts are scheduled to open.
The first snow-covered streets of Pas de la Casa, one of Andorra's best-known high-altitude destinations, offer an early glimpse of the winter landscape that attracts thousands of visitors to the Principality each year.
Although the snowfall does not yet signal the start of the ski season, it represents the first significant sign of winter's arrival in Andorra, with colder temperatures and further mountain weather events expected as the season progresses.
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