Rare snowstorm closes Madrid airport, creates journey chaos
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Heavy snowfall from Storm Filomena left hundreds of Spanish drivers trapped of their vehicles on Friday as roads have been blocked and Madrid airport was closed. The M-30 and M-40 motorways close to Madrid have been amongst greater than 400 roads the place snow hindered autos, site visitors authorities mentioned. Citizens have been requested to keep away from non-essential journey due to the extremely uncommon blizzard.
“I drove to see my husband in hospital and have been stuck here for three hours. It’s a journey which should take 15 minutes,” a girl informed Spanish tv RNE from her automotive.
Meteorologists anticipated Friday’s snowfall to whole 20 cm (8 inches), and temperatures hovered round freezing.
The Red Cross took meals to trapped lorry drivers on the A4 in Madrid.
“Owing to the adverse meteorological conditions, flights are being diverted from Madrid Barajas airport. Consult your airline for the state of your flight,” Aena, which controls the nation’s airports, mentioned in a tweet.
Some welcomed the possibility to have enjoyable within the snow. Skiers glided by way of the Puerta del Sol plaza in central Madrid, and a social media video confirmed a person on a sled driving a pack of canines by way of the streets of the capital.
Real Madrid soccer crew, headed to Pamplona for a match in opposition to La Liga rivals Osasuna, have been left ready on a airplane for 4 hours at Madrid airport earlier than their flight took off.
Madrid and eight provinces have been underneath probably the most extreme climate advisory for the primary time for the reason that system was created in 2007.
Large parks within the capital, together with the Retiro subsequent to the Prado museum, have been closed as a precaution.
“I have come out to see and enjoy the snow. There is very little else to do these days (because of the pandemic),” mentioned Juan Jose, 24, a advertising govt, exterior Retiro Park.
High-speed rail companies between Madrid and the southeastern cities of Alicante and Valencia have been suspended.
A report temperature of -35.6 levels C (-32 levels Fahrenheit) was recorded at Vega de Lourdes in Leon, northern Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) mentioned.
