Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Catalan Pyrenees Surge as Asturias Ski Areas Cut Back During Holiday Bridge

A burst of cold and natural snowfall lifted Catalan resorts, with wind, thin cover and a key lift outage constraining Asturias.

Overview

  • On Monday, Fuentes de Invierno was the only Cantabrian-area hill open, offering roughly 1 km of skiing on about 5 cm of wet snow and signaling a likely shutdown without fresh snowfall.
  • Valgrande-Pajares remained closed on the holiday due to strong winds, after an already limited opening and ongoing problems with the El Brañillín chairlift that disrupted beginner access.
  • Asturias briefly opened both Fuentes and Pajares earlier in the puente, but terrain was thin and uneven, and attendance was moderate given the marginal conditions and uncertainties.
  • Catalonia reported a robust start: nine alpine stations are operating, Masella opened on November 26, and Baqueira-Beret and other resorts cite the best early conditions since 2019 with natural snow reported near 40 cm in places.
  • Local businesses near the Asturian areas reported an immediate lift from the openings, even as updated forecasts now point to no new snow until Friday, putting near-term operations at risk.