The Catalan Government will deploy three new meteorological radars in the Pyrenees to better predict floods and protect campsites situated in high-risk zones. The move, confirmed on 8/9/2025 by Interior Minister Núria Parlon and the Catalan Camping Federation, forms part of a new decree aimed at mapping flood risks at every campsite and enforcing safety measures.
The €6 million project will see the radars installed in 2026 at La Peülla near Bonaigua, the Pic de l’Orri in Pallars Sobirà, and the Tossa d’Alp in Cerdanya. They will complement the existing four stations at Tivissa, Vallirana, La Panadella and Puig d’Arques. Officials say the new system will improve rain and snow detection accuracy by up to 90%, benefitting not just campsites but mountain communities more widely.
The decree requires a site-by-site assessment of hazards, with obligations on operators to adapt facilities—such as relocating bungalows, installing early-warning systems, or creating evacuation protocols. While 16 campsites already identified as flood-exposed will be assessed first, Parlon stressed that ‘this is not a blacklist but a management tool’. Economic aid will be offered to help businesses comply.
The legislation replaces a shelved March 2025 draft that had controversially envisaged forced closures. The Generalitat insists the new framework is about resilience, not shuttering sites, and has been agreed in consensus with the sector.
Why it matters: Flash floods have struck the Catalan Pyrenees repeatedly in recent decades, sometimes with deadly consequences for riverside campsites. By investing in cutting-edge radar and binding safety audits, authorities aim to avoid repeating tragedies while balancing the interests of a vital tourism industry.
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Source: Ara.cat
