A sudden deterioration in weather conditions in Madrid has once again led to unexpected restrictions for residents and visitors of the capital. The authorities have decided to partially close several historic parks in order to prevent possible tragedies and minimize risks to visitors. This event has directly affected the daily lives of locals as well as the plans of tourists who found themselves in front of the closed gates of popular green areas.
According to official reports, the cause was storm winds and heavy rains brought by cyclones Joseph and Kristin. Parks have been operating in a limited mode for more than a week now, and this Monday a yellow weather alert was issued. City authorities clarified that the restrictions will remain in place at least until noon, until the threat of strong winds and downpours subsides.
Restrictions and consequences
The list of closed or partially inaccessible areas includes not only the famous El Retiro park (El Retiro), but also eight other iconic green spaces in the city. Among them are El Capricho park (El Capricho), the rose garden in Parque del Oeste (Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste), Juan Carlos I and Juan Pablo II parks, as well as three estates: Quinta de Fuente del Berro, Quinta de los Molinos, and Quinta Torre Arias. In addition, restrictions also affected Parque Lineal del Manzanares.
The introduction of the yellow alert level means the parks are not completely closed, but access to certain areas is strictly limited. In particular, playgrounds and sports areas, as well as the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, are closed. Authorities strongly recommend staying away from trees and temporarily refraining from walking along alleys, where falling branches may be possible.
Public reaction
The decision to partially close parks sparked a strong response among residents of nearby areas. The situation resonated particularly with residents of the Ibiza district, for whom Retiro Park is not only a place to relax but also an important route to the Eugenio Trías library, sports facilities, and children’s areas. Now they have to take long detours to get to their usual destinations.
Tourists arriving in Madrid were also caught off guard. Many had planned to stroll along Retiro’s famous avenues but found the gates closed and were met with conflicting information on the city’s official channels. Heated debates continue on social media: some support the safety measures, while others criticize the authorities for lack of transparency and confusion in their notifications.
Safety protocols
Madrid’s weather response system operates according to a special protocol that was tightened after tragic incidents in 2014 and 2018. A so-called ‘weather traffic light’ was introduced, featuring four alert levels: green, yellow, orange, and red. Each level corresponds to specific weather indicators—wind speed, soil moisture, temperature, and precipitation.
The current yellow alert level is activated when wind gusts exceed 40 km/h but remain below 50 km/h. In this case, parks are not completely closed, but access to the most dangerous areas is restricted. If conditions worsen and wind speeds exceed 50 km/h, a red alert will be issued, resulting in the full closure of all green zones.
Information chaos
The ambiguity of official communications has become a separate topic of discussion. Residents note that information on the city hall website, on social networks, and on electronic boards at park entrances often does not match. Some sources mention a ‘park inspection,’ while others refer to a weather alert, and tourist portals continue inviting people for walks despite the restrictions.
Activists from the Retiro Norte association openly criticize city authorities for poor coordination and confusing notifications. According to them, last week Retiro Park was closed almost the entire time, except for a few hours on Friday and Saturday, causing frustration among both locals and visitors.
Context and previous years’ experience
In recent years, Madrid has increasingly had to temporarily close parks due to extreme weather events. Such measures were already implemented in 2023 and 2024, when strong winds and heavy rains caused trees to fall and damaged infrastructure. At that time, there were also debates about the timeliness and transparency of city authorities’ decisions.
In other Spanish cities, such as Barcelona and Valencia, similar safety protocols are in place for public parks. The introduction of multi-level alert systems was a response to tragic incidents where people suffered due to bad weather. As a result, despite the inconvenience, most experts consider these measures justified, especially given the changing climate and the increasing number of extreme weather events.
