Oviedo (EFE).- The Fien storm has left this Wednesday very cold, abundant snowfall and widespread rainfall throughout the Principality, which has seen how the flow of its rivers has increased to levels close to their overflow, roads cut off or conditioned by the snow, classes suspended in six councils and a fishing fleet moored in port by a storm that has left waves of up to six meters.
The arctic air mass that began to be felt on Monday, and that since yesterday has fully affected a large part of the peninsula, has forced this Wednesday to intermittently cut truck traffic on the AP-66 motorway, the main route of communication between Asturias and La Meseta.
This route has seen throughout the day how the circulation of trucks and articulated vehicles was restricted for hours and at different times of the day, while passenger cars were recommended not to travel at more than one hundred kilometers per hour.
The other major communication route between Asturias and the center of the peninsula, the N-634, has also suffered restrictions since the port of Pajares has remained closed for heavy traffic all day, while passenger cars have been able to circulate with chains, a This situation has been repeated in another 25 mountain passes in the regional network and in many sections of mountain roads.
The ports of San Ignacio, in Ponga, and that of Tarna, in Caso, have been the ones that have suffered the most from the inclement weather and have remained closed for a good part of the day due to the accumulation of snow and the risk of avalanches, a danger that it has also prevented traffic between Ujo and the port of San Isidro; between Tielve and Sotres; from Riaño to the port of Tarna, in the council of Caso: and between Trubia and the port of Ventana.
avalanche risk
The risk of avalanches has not only affected these roads, it has also led the State Meteorological Agency to issue an important avalanche risk warning in the Picos de Europa, where the snow has reached thicknesses of between one and two meters at higher levels. at 500 meters, which are also being altered by the strong winds that hit the area.
The access to Los Lagos de Covadonga and the circulation between Tuiza and the port of La Cubilla have also remained closed due to the accumulation of snow, which has made a presence today in the Principality at levels located around 300 meters and has left prints like Mount Naranco covered by a white mantle, visible from the Asturian capital.
The snow has not only conditioned road communications today in a large part of the territory, it has also forced the suspension of classes in schools in six councils -Ibias, Degaña, Aller, Ponga, Cangas del Narcea and Caso- and has altered the routes of the buses that cover mountain areas, which is why many students have not been able to attend their classes either.
The first great winter storm, which left hail on the coast and low points of the coastal plain, and in inland points, such as Oviedo, has also left significant rainfall throughout the Asturian territory, where the rivers have seen their flow increase hour after hour.
The most critical points have been in the Navia river, as it passes through Villayón, and in the Narcea, with a worrying flow in the access bridge to the La Barca weighing station (Belmonte de Miranda), in Requejo (Salas) and in Quinzanas (Pravia).
River flood risk
Although today they have not overflowed, the Minister of the Presidency, Rita Camblor, has expressed her concern that tomorrow there could be an even greater flood as a result of a rapid thaw favored by a “notable increase” in temperatures that she foresees for Thursday the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
For the fourth day of this winter storm, the AEMET foresees that the persistent rains will continue throughout the Principality, with a snow level that will increase throughout the day from 600 to 1,600 meters above sea level and that will also be influenced by a strong wind from the west and southwest component, with very strong gusts on the coast.
On Friday temperatures will also rise significantly in almost the entire country, especially at night, in which the rise can be up to 8 degrees compared to Thursday, with frost limited to mountainous areas.
Today the rain has continued to fall persistently throughout the community, with accumulations of more than 30 liters per square meter in Salas and Pajares, and more than 20 in Oviedo, Mieres and Lena, adding to the abundant rainfall that has already they were registered on Monday and Tuesday.
The wind has subsided compared to Tuesday, but gusts of up to 94 kilometers per hour have still been registered in Villayón and around 65 in Llanes, the airport, Pajares and Castropol.
The minimums have dropped below 5 degrees in Pajares and Leitariegos, and have been around negative 4 in Degaña and below zero in Ibias and Aller, while the maximums have not exceeded 10 degrees, except in Castropol.
For tomorrow, the storm will keep practically the entire community, except for the coast, on orange warning due to the risk of snowfall of up to 20 centimeters, and five centimeters at levels between 300 and 500 meters, as well as waves of up to six meters in the entire coast. EFE
