“Road traffic is cut off on sections 11, 12 and 13 of National Road (EN) 338 because of the snow. This is the connection between Piornos [municipality of Covilhã], Torre and Lagoa Comprida [municipality of Seia],” a source from the Sub-regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Beiras and Serra da Estrela told Lusa news agency.

The same source said there is no forecast for the reopening of the road that crosses the highest point of the Serra da Estrela.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed the districts of Guarda and Castelo Branco under orange alert due to the forecast of snow.

The alert is in effect until midnight on Saturday, and snowfall is expected above 1,400/1,600 meters of altitude, with accumulations that could exceed 25 centimetres in the highest points of the Serra da Estrela mountain range.