Alert for heavy snowfall and strong winds in Ariège, access to Pas de la Casa closes at 5 p.m.

Heavy snowfall and strong winds are forecast for this Sunday, December 22, around 5 p.m. “Snowfall, expected throughout the department, will particularly affect Haute-Ariège, leading to a gradual lowering of the rain and snow limit to 1,700 m (cumulative snowfall of 20/40 cm), then to 1,400 m around 6 p.m. (cumulative of 15/20 cm), and during the night from Sunday to Monday, around midnight, at 700-800 m (cumulative of 5/10 cm). The snow will be accompanied by a northwest wind which will strengthen at the end of the day on Sunday and during the night,” announced the Ariège prefecture.

Consequently, the circulation of heavy goods vehicles over 19 T will be prohibited on the RN 20, from Foix to Ur, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, and on the RN320, from 3 p.m., “with local service authorized until Ax-les-Thermes.

Sanction for not having the appropriate equipment

Access to Pas de la Casa, via the RN320 and the Col de Puymorens, will be closed at 5 p.m. All of these routes will reopen Monday or Tuesday, depending on the weather. “Road users with winter equipment can travel to Andorra by taking the Puymorens tunnel, via Bourg-Madame and Puigcerda,” recommends the prefecture.

The gendarmerie will carry out checks on vehicle equipment on the RN20. If motorists do not have the appropriate equipment, they will be fined €35 ​​and will have to turn back.