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Date Published: 19/01/2023

The first snowfall of the year in Murcia

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High altitude areas of the Region of Murcia have had snowfall, making driving conditions “risky”

The first snowfall of the year in Murcia

Storms Gerard and Fien, which have been causing havoc on Spanish roads, have also left the first snowfalls of the year in the Region of Murcia this week.

Joining forces with an anticyclone from the Azores, the storms have brought snow levels down to just 700 metres above sea level, settling in some relatively low altitude areas, despite forecasts not predicting any snow for the Region this week.

The towns of Bullas and Moratalla in the Northwest and the Altiplano areas of the Murcia Region have been covered with a beautiful white blanket of snow.

School students at the rural grouped centres of Cañada de la Cruz and El Sabinar have not been able to attend classes due to the presence of ice on the access roads.

At the peak of La Selva, between the municipalities of Mula and Bullas, about two centimetres of snow remained at midday on Wednesday January 18 and the highest part of the Sierra Espuña park had precipitation in the form of snow and hail.

Authorities are recommending that people do not to go to these places to look for snow as they are in very high areas and difficult to access, and there is the risk of cars and walkers becoming stranded.

Snow has also fallen in areas located between 400 and 500 metres above sea level, in places such as Zarzadilla de Totana or on the river beach of Coy, in Lorca.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Coordination Centre in Murcia attended around 100 incidents caused by the strong gusts of wind this Tuesday January 17, the vast majority due to falling objects.

Six years on from the largest snowfall in Murcia in recent times

This Tuesday also marked the sixth anniversary of the great snowfall in Murcia and the Campo de Cartagena, something unusual for the local residents. It was the first time they had seen snowflakes in 34 years in Murcia, where it was celebrated as if it were a party.

Take care on the roads

The Local Police in Bullas have called for drivers to exercise caution, especially when driving in high areas of the Carretera de Avilés, which they say could be “risky”. The snow has caused driving difficulties on the RM-730 (Caravaca-Puebla de don Fadrique at El Moral), RM-702 (Archivel) and RM-703 (Casas del Prado) roads.

The accumulation of snow will remain in very small amounts this Thursday and Friday, mainly in the high areas, but temperatures are not expected to rise significantly, if at all, going into next week.

Image 1: 112 Región de Murcia

Images 2 & 3: @RutaVinoBullas / Twitter

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