Snowfall in Spain “exceptional and most likely historic”

Parts of Spain blanketed in heavy snow. Roads closed.  and air travel disrupted. Madrid’s Barajas airport closed. All trains to and from Madrid cancelled. Half of the country on red alert for more on Saturday.

Interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the country was facing “the most intense storm in the last 50 years”.

Madrid, one of the worst affected areas, was set to see up to 20cm (eight inches) of snow in the next 24 hours.

As snow fell on Madrid on Friday evening, a number of vehicles became stranded on a motorway near the capital.

Firefighters were called in to assist drivers who had become stuck. In some areas the military were called in to help clear roads.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to stay at home and to follow the instructions of emergency services.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia took to Twitter to urge “extreme caution against the risks of accumulation of ice and snow”.

The country’s AEMET weather agency said the snowfall was “exceptional and most likely historic”.

See lots of photos:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55586751

Thanks to Lyn Jenkins for this link

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January 9, 2021 at 12:44PM