Storm Enol hits the Pyrénées-Orientales this weekend, causing strong winds, traffic restrictions, and the closure of several Christmas markets.
No festivities at Barcarès and Pia
The Barcarès Christmas Village is closed since 5 p.m. this Sunday. The organizers made the announcement on their social networks late in the afternoon when they hoped to be able to keep the Village open until the end of the weekend. Santa's arrival, brought forward to 6 p.m., was ultimately canceled for security reasons.
Same choice was made to Pia. At 6 p.m., the City also announced on its social networks that it was “forced to close the Christmas Garden for this evening, following the weather conditions.” The Soler also hopes to be able to reopen its market at Espace Vives this Monday, but in the meantime has chosen to close it “for the safety of all”.
On the other hand, the Chinese lantern festival “Splendors of China” in Céret is open this Sunday evening until 11 p.m. The animations and in particular “The lights on the sea” in Collioure are kept on all night on the facade of the buildings of the French favorite Village.
A truck overturned by the tramontane on the D900
On the road, the authorities call for extreme caution. The firefighters had to intervene around 4 p.m. to an accident on the D900near the Salses-le-Château exit towards Fitou. An empty covered truck was caught in the wind and lay on its side, ending up in a field.
This accident did not no injuries. The driver of the truck was examined on site by firefighters and did not require hospitalization.
However, traffic was disrupted during the evacuation of the heavy goods vehicle, with alternating circulation put in place on this axis at the end of the afternoon. Fortunately, few heavy goods vehicles were traveling on this axis on a Sunday.
Traffic disrupted
Weather conditions also affect access to mountain areas and the border with Andorra. Smart Bison and the prefecture of Pyrénées-Orientales have issued several alerts and taken precautionary measures:
- **RN20, RN22, and RN320:**Tonnage limitations for heavy goods vehicles over 19 tonnes have been put in place on the RN20 and RN320.
- Several sections of the RN320 and RN22 are closed to all vehicles: between l'Hospitalet-près l'Andorre and Pas de la Casa, and crossing the Col du Puymorens is also impossible
Avalanche yellow alert: caution
Since 4 p.m., the department has been placed in avalanche yellow vigilanceparticularly in the sectors Capcir-Puymorens et Andorrarecalls the prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales. The unstable slabs formed by the strong wind increase the risk of avalanches. The authorities strongly advise against any mountain activities in these areas.
