The Barcelona City Council has decided close all public parks and gardens as a precaution. In response to a period of strong winds affecting the city and much of Catalonia, the measure is part of established protocols to minimize risks, especially from the potential fall of trees, branches, and street furniture.
Municipal authorities have activated the Municipal Action Plan for wind in alert phase After Barcelona firefighters responded to approximately 15 incidents in just one hour related to the wind, the operation was coordinated with the Catalan Civil Protection agency. The agency is maintaining the Ventcat plan due to the forecast of gusts that could exceed 70-72 km/h in several districts.
Alert for strong winds and closure of green spaces
The Catalan capital is under a episode of westerly winds associated with an Atlantic storm that is creating very unstable weather across much of northern Spain and the Mediterranean coast. In Barcelona, ​​the city council has ordered the closure of all public parks and gardens As a precautionary measure against the risk of landslides and falling trees, while actions are being planned in areas such as the future coastal park.
The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya has issued Warnings for strong winds for Barcelonès and other areas of the territoryThis places the risk level at intermediate but significant levels. In the city, there is a 30% to 70% probability that gusts will exceed 72 km/h, a threshold beyond which incidents in urban environments increase significantly.
The records from weather stations already reflect gusts exceeding 60 km/h in high points such as Tibidabo and the Fabra Observatoryas well as in several neighborhoods of the city. These figures confirm the intensity of the event and justify the deployment of preventive measures by the City Council and the emergency services.
Meanwhile, the Generalitat's Civil Protection maintains the Ventcat plan alert across CataloniaBecause the windstorm is also affecting areas of Penedès, Camp de Tarragona, Central Catalonia, the High Pyrenees and Aran Valley, and Ponent, gusts in many of these areas could exceed 70 km/h, increasing the danger on roads, in wooded areas, and in rural areas.
The authorities emphasize that the The main objective of these restrictions is to minimize unnecessary risks to the populationAvoiding the presence of people in wooded areas or areas with objects that could become dislodged. For this reason, it is recommended to postpone walks and leisure activities in parks, gardens, and other outdoor spaces while the winds persist.
Incidents in the city and risks associated with wind
From the early hours of the day, the Barcelona firefighters have responded to several incidents related to the wind.Most incidents involved branches and unstable elements on facades or roofs. Approximately 15 callouts have been recorded in the last hour, a number that could increase if the intensity of the storm continues.
One of the scares of the day occurred in the courtyard of the Farigola School in the El Clot neighborhoodwhere a large pine tree has fallen. The school had already been warned about the weather conditions and, as a preventative measure, had kept students out of the area considered at risk. Thanks to this, No injuries or personal damage have been reported, beyond the material damage caused by the tree falling.
Parks and Gardens workers have been deployed to the site to Secure the perimeter and gradually remove the tree remainsin order to restore normalcy to the school grounds as soon as possible. This incident is considered an example of the type of risk that the closure of parks and green spaces is intended to prevent.
Municipal services remind everyone that the Wind can cause loosely secured items to fall from buildings and street furniture.These objects, such as blinds, panels, flowerpots, awnings, or antennas, can also be struck by falling debris, and can even cause motorcycles and containers to overturn. For this reason, it is crucial to check any object that could be thrown or fall onto the street.
In the road sector, the Servei Català de Trà nsit and Civil Protection warn of possible impacts on mountain roads and exposed routesparticularly on sections of the N-260, C-28, and N-230 in the Pyrenees. The risk increases when wind combines with snow or ice, reducing visibility and making driving difficult.
Emergency plans activated and the role of the storm
The current situation is framed within a windstorm and fallen treeswith episodes of rain, snow, intense cold, and rough seas. After the passage of other systems, Storm Goretti is now driving very strong winds across the north and northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, also reaching Catalonia.
Given this context, the Barcelona City Council has The Municipal Action Plan alert has been activated due to strong winds., a protocol that includes specific measures such as the closure of parks and gardens, the review of elements in public areas and close coordination with emergency services.
For its part, Civil Protection has launched the Ventcat plan for the entire Catalan communityThe forecast predicts that the wind event will continue at least until the afternoon of the following day. Very wet ground after days of rain increases the risk of [floods/squash]. landslides or falling of poorly anchored treesespecially on slopes and wooded areas.
In addition to the wind, the Neucat plan pre-alert for possible snowfall in the Vall d'Aran, Pallars Sobirà , and Alta Ribagorça regions. In these areas, around 10 centimeters of snow could accumulate above 900 meters between Friday and Saturday, a situation that further complicates mobility and road safety.
Combining Strong winds, snow and blizzards in the Pyrenees This creates a complex scenario, where visibility can decrease drastically and the road surface becomes very slippery. Given this situation, authorities recommend planning any trips to mountain areas in advance and considering postponing outdoor activities.
Recommendations for home: how to prevent damage
Given the persistent gusts of wind, both Barcelona City Council and Civil Protection insist on a set of recommendations directed to the population to reduce the risk of personal and material damage in the domestic environment.
First, it is advised Close and secure all doors and windowsLower the blinds completely and retract the awnings. The aim is to prevent the wind from hitting them, tearing them off, or causing pieces to detach and fall into the street.
Another key point is Remove flowerpots, decorative objects and any loose items from balconies, windows and terraces that can be thrown off. Even seemingly light objects can cause injuries if they hit people walking underneath.
It is also recommended to review fixed elements installed on facades and roofssuch as antennas, air conditioning units, skylights, panels, or advertising signs. If any are found to be unstable, it is advisable to secure them or contact a professional to do so properly.
In buildings with accessible rooftops, it is requested Avoid climbing to high areas such as roofs or scaffolding While the winds last. In addition to the risk of falling, the wind can destabilize people and cause serious accidents, especially on narrow or slippery surfaces.
Tips for the street and for driving
For those who must travel on public roads, Civil Protection emphasizes the importance of Stay away from cornices, walls, trees, and dilapidated structuresStrong gusts can cause landslides, falling branches, or the overturning of unstable elements.
It is especially recommended Exercise extreme caution near construction sites, scaffolding, and cranes.as well as in areas where construction or maintenance work is being carried out at height. Any loosely secured piece can become a dangerous projectile if the wind blows strongly.
Regarding vehicles parked on the street, authorities warn that Motorcycles, bicycles, and some pieces of street furniture can fall onto parked cars.If possible, it is advisable to leave the vehicle in garages or sheltered places, away from large trees and large signs.
For driving, both the Servei Català de Trà nsit and Civil Protection recommend Reduce your speed, maintain a wide safety distance, and hold the steering wheel firmly.especially when overtaking or passing over exposed areas, such as viaducts and bridges. A sudden change in wind speed can alter the vehicle's trajectory.
In mountainous areas or areas where snow is expected, it is considered essential Bring snow chains, warm clothing, a full tank of fuel, and a charged mobile phone.This improves the ability to react in case of traffic jams, road closures, or unforeseen events caused by bad weather.
General Civil Protection Recommendations
Civil Protection has prepared a detailed list of behavioral guidelines This message is aimed at both the citizens of Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia affected by the storm. These guidelines focus on reducing exposure to risk and promoting a preventative approach.
Among the main suggestions for the domestic sphere are the following: Stay informed frequently about the evolution of the weather situation Stay informed through official channels, radio, television, or emergency services websites. Keeping up-to-date with alerts allows you to anticipate and avoid activities during periods of higher risk.
Outside, the message is clear: Avoid areas with a high risk of landslides and wooded areas While the windy episode lasts, it is advisable to avoid sports activities in parks, forests, or mountainous areas, and to avoid beaches or cliffs where the wind may blow strongly.
In urban environments, it is called Pay attention to poorly secured objects, external decorations, festive lights, or temporary elements. placed on balconies and terraces. If any object is observed that is at risk of falling, the most prudent thing to do is to remove it or, if that is not possible, to notify the building managers.
Emergency services also remind everyone that, in case of an incident, it is preferable Call the emergency number and provide as much information as possible about the location and nature of the problem.This speeds up the arrival of teams and avoids unnecessary travel by citizens to potentially dangerous areas.
While the wind alert remains in effect, institutions insist that The priority is to protect the physical integrity of people and reduce material damage.limiting outdoor activities, securing items that could fall, and carefully following the instructions of the competent authorities.