Hundreds of people were left trapped in their cars in Granada on Monday after a snow storm took them by surprise.
The Puerto de la Mora mountain pass was forced to close for more than five hours due to the heavy snowfall, leaving at least 70 cars stranded on the A-92.
Authorities said that the situation was made more difficult by the lack of a snow warning from state weather agency Aemet.
Meteorologists had only warned of strong winds, meaning locals were stunned when snow fell at unusually low levels – from around 900 metres – with up to six centimetres in Viznar and seven centimetres in Güejar Sierra.
The A-92 was shut from 10.30am between kilometres 241 and 282, on the stretch between Albolote and Darro, after snow made driving impossible.
Traffic authorities diverted vehicles onto alternative routes, mainly via the A-44 and A-308.
Chains were also required on several nearby roads, including the A-4002 from El Fargue and the A-4003 between Viznar and Huetor Santillan.
Images released by the Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) showed vehicles at a standstill on the Puerto de la Mora after being caught out by the morning snowfall, with snowploughs working to clear the road.
Traffic was reported to be slow-moving across several kilometres, with cars and lorries waiting patiently for conditions to improve.
By early afternoon the snowfall eased and snow-clearing machines were able to make progress, allowing traffic to start moving again.
Heavy vehicles, however, remained parked for longer in higher areas while the road was fully cleared. The regional government confirmed that 10 snowploughs were working in the area.
Snow also reached Granada city, especially in El Fargue, prompting the Granada Local Police to urge drivers to take extra care.
Elsewhere in the province, snow and wintry conditions led to further restrictions on roads leading to Sierra Nevada, while some public transport routes were temporarily suspended or diverted.
Despite the disruption, no serious incidents were reported, and conditions gradually improved as the day went on.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
