Snow brings northern Spain to a halt as hundreds of lorries are left stuck and shops feel the strain

Snowfall across northern Spain has turned major roads into bottlenecks, leaving hundreds of lorries stranded, traffic frozen in place and supermarkets beginning to warn of supply problems.

Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, has imposed temporary bans on heavy goods vehicles across several key routes after snow and ice made driving conditions increasingly dangerous. The decision, while aimed at safety, has quickly rippled through the transport network.

The worst-hit areas are along routes leading into Galicia, where long-distance freight traffic has effectively ground to a halt.

Hundreds of lorries stuck on key routes into Galicia

The most serious disruption is on the A-52 motorway, which links Castile and León with Galicia. Since early Friday morning, around 440 lorries have been forced to stop in Zamora province, unable to continue their journeys because of the restrictions.

Drivers heading north have been diverted into service areas, where queues of parked trucks now stretch for kilometres. Around 300 vehicles are waiting at Quintanilla de Urz, another 120 at Puebla de Sanabria, and several more at Mombuey, according to government sources.

The A-6 motorway, between León and Lugo, has also been affected, with heavy vehicles barred from travelling between Cuevas and Pedrafita do Cebreiro due to snow on the carriageway.

Some routes remain technically open, but only with extreme caution. The AP-66, linking Asturias and León, and parts of the AG-53 in Pontevedra are still passable for lorries, though conditions remain difficult and unpredictable.

More restrictions added as snow continues to fall

The situation is not limited to Galicia-bound traffic. In Soria, the DGT has announced fresh restrictions on vehicles carrying goods weighing more than 7.5 tonnes, coming into force from 3pm on Friday.

Seven road sections are affected, including stretches of the A-2, A-15, N-111, N-122, N-234, CL-101 and N-110. Officials say the move is preventative, designed to reduce the risk of accidents as snowfall intensifies and temperatures drop further.

In total, 53 roads across northern Spain are now affected by snow, including four major routes on the national network. Drivers are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel and to check conditions before setting off.

Supermarkets warn of shortages if delays continue

The knock-on effects are already being felt beyond the roads. Spain’s supermarket association Asedas has warned that the restrictions are beginning to disrupt deliveries, with some stores reporting early signs of shortages.

According to the group, more than 15 high-capacity routes could be affected by the weather, along with dozens of regional and local roads. With hundreds of lorries immobilised and logistics platforms temporarily paralysed, restocking has become increasingly difficult.

Retailers say the situation remains under control for now, but they warn that prolonged restrictions could quickly lead to empty shelves, particularly in areas heavily dependent on daily deliveries.

Asedas has called on authorities to manage the situation as they usually do during severe weather events, balancing road safety with the need to keep essential goods moving.

A familiar winter scene, with growing consequences

While winter snow is nothing new in northern Spain, the scale of modern logistics means disruptions are now felt much faster. What begins as a safety measure on the roads can quickly turn into a supply issue for towns and cities.

For lorry drivers, many of whom have been waiting since dawn, the priority is simply knowing when they will be allowed to move again. For supermarkets, it is about keeping shelves stocked. And for authorities, the challenge is managing a weather event that shows no sign of easing.

For now, the message from the DGT is clear: avoid travel if you can, expect delays, and be prepared for further restrictions if snow continues to fall.

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