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Storm Filomena has covered Spain in heavy snow, disrupting road, rail, and air travel. In fact, the weather has been so bad, the country's interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called Filomena "the most intense storm in the last 50 years."

Madrid has been one of the worst affected areas. The city's Barajas airport was closed, along with a number of roads, and all trains to and from Madrid have been canceled. Further south, the storm caused rivers to burst onto their banks.

Four deaths have been reported so far. Officials said two people had been found frozen to death (one in the town of Zarzalejo, north-west of Madrid, another in the eastern city of Calatayud, and two people traveling in a car were swept away by floods near the southern city of Malaga).

While facing these challenges, Spanish people have been sharing photos online to show just how much Filomena has transformed their everyday life. Bored Panda has compiled some of them into a list to give you a better understanding of the situation, so continue scrolling and check out the images.

Dani Molinero, an ESL teacher and diversity educator, who captured the beautiful side of the blizzard, said that Filomena has really been at it in their region. "I am from the Basque Country, north of Spain, [and] the weather is usually warm and rainy [at this time of year]," Molinero told Bored Panda. "[It] rarely snows. But the storm has hit this place very hard. I am a teacher and school is canceled until next week, probably. This [looks like] the biggest snowfall ever in the history of my city."

Reddit user alphasephirot, who took a picture of their cat Naoki (full name Ragnar de Naoki Boeing) in the snow, is from Madrid, living in the outskirts of the city in a place called Paracuellos. "The weather here is usually cold dry winters and very hot summers. It's not unusual to have a cold winter with temperatures that range from 0 to 5 or 10 degrees on the 'hottest' days. It usually snows once every couple of years but it won't even stay on the ground," they told Bored Panda.

The 31-year-old has never seen anything like Filomena. "Of course there has been some snow in the past, and in 2009 we had a big snowfall as well, but nothing compared to this. It was normal these days to see people skiing on the streets, which was crazy. Traffic has been a nightmare and the government has been issuing warnings about the storm but everything has collapsed either way."

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"I work at the airport and though the news is that it is working as of now, the truth is that normal operation is a nightmare and the ice and snow patches are really hard to dissolve which complicates everything," alphasephirot added. "The situation won't go back to normal for at least one or two weeks from now which is crazy, considering that we are supposedly living in a 'rich' country."

#2

Big Snowfall These Days In Madrid. Naoki Went Out Exploring The Backyard. He's A Real Viking!

Big Snowfall These Days In Madrid. Naoki Went Out Exploring The Backyard. He's A Real Viking!

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Up to 50cm (20 inches) of snow fell on Spain's capital Madrid between Friday and Saturday. Overnight, temperatures plummeted to -8C (18F) in parts of the country, and meteorologists sent out warnings that the snow was turning into perilous ice.

The unusually cold wave on the Iberian peninsula is expected to last until Thursday. The Spanish government reported it had taken extra steps (including police-escorted convoys) to ensure its expected shipment of some 300,000 coronavirus vaccines can be distributed as planned to regional health authorities later on Monday.

#3

It Has Been Snowing Like Crazy In Spain And Then Theres This Guy

It Has Been Snowing Like Crazy In Spain And Then Theres This Guy

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Grant Barke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So this guy had a sled and dogs ready for the last 50 years hoping for a day of snow.

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But there were stories of heroism to inspire people during this difficult period too. For example, doctors and medical workers abandoned their trapped cars and walked for hours to get to work to continue saving the country from the pandemic. One doctor, Alvaro Sanchez, said on social media he had walked 17km (10 miles) over nearly two hours to get to work, while two nurses, Paco and Monica, said they had walked 22km (14 miles) to their hospital.

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#4

Madrid

Madrid

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Isa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They see me surfing and hating.....nothing like using the imagination...can't surf? Then slide in the snow...

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#5

Snowfall In Spain

Snowfall In Spain

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Who? Me?
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These type of pictures have a wolf as the main object usually.... seeing the cute little doggo made me chuckle.

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#6

Cows Making Their Way Through The Very Deep Snow Cover On The Slopes Of Montes De León In Northwestern Spain Yesterday, Jan 9th. Do You Think They Like The Snow Or Do They Just Want To Get To The Stables Asap?

Cows Making Their Way Through The Very Deep Snow Cover On The Slopes Of Montes De León In Northwestern Spain Yesterday, Jan 9th. Do You Think They Like The Snow Or Do They Just Want To Get To The Stables Asap?

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#7

Snow Fight In Madrid, Covered In Snow For The First Time In 51 Years

Snow Fight In Madrid, Covered In Snow For The First Time In 51 Years

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Joan Humphreys
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After all the sadness in 2020, it is encouraging to see people just simply having fun. The human spirit is strong. Be well my friends!

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#9

Local Art

Local Art

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Samantha Comerford
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me ; desperately counting the miles /wind/weather from the uk to see if we will get some . 🙏🏼

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#10

Snowfall In Spain

Snowfall In Spain

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Bob Belcher
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live that the thought behind this is "let's just make the biggest ball that we can!"

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#11

Worst Snowfall In Spain In 50 Years. Spaniards:

Worst Snowfall In Spain In 50 Years. Spaniards:

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#12

A Winter Snowfall In Madrid

A Winter Snowfall In Madrid

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#14

Madrid Has Seen Its Heaviest Snowfall Since 1971

Madrid Has Seen Its Heaviest Snowfall Since 1971

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Isa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And here we are in The Netherlands with no snow at all...so weird(I love snow I just don't like the after snow, black dirty snow thing)...

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#15

My Father's Car Is Down There. Many Trees Have Fallen After Biggest Snowfall In The Last Century In Downtown Madrid (Spain)

My Father's Car Is Down There. Many Trees Have Fallen After Biggest Snowfall In The Last Century In Downtown Madrid (Spain)

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#16

Madrid Has Seen Its Heaviest Snowfall Since 1971

Madrid Has Seen Its Heaviest Snowfall Since 1971

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Natalia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can almost hear the silence and get that strange feeling snowfall causes ....

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#17

Picturesque Scenes In Madrid

Picturesque Scenes In Madrid

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#18

Heaviest Snowfall In Madrid, Spain In Over 50 Years!

Heaviest Snowfall In Madrid, Spain In Over 50 Years!

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#21

Making The Best Out Of It Had To Drive Home This Morning, 16hours Car Ride. Found My Car Stuck In Over 50cm Of Snow

Making The Best Out Of It Had To Drive Home This Morning, 16hours Car Ride. Found My Car Stuck In Over 50cm Of Snow

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#22

A Winter Snowfall In Madrid

A Winter Snowfall In Madrid

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#23

The Greatest Snowfall In Over 50 Years Hit Madrid, Spain Today

The Greatest Snowfall In Over 50 Years Hit Madrid, Spain Today

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#24

The Aftermath: Largest Snowfall In The Past 50 Years In Madrid, Spain - 406 Roads Cut

The Aftermath: Largest Snowfall In The Past 50 Years In Madrid, Spain - 406 Roads Cut

reddit.com Report

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justagirl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very dangerous as they have neither the equipment for safe winter driving nor the experience to drive on slippery roads. Take care, our Spanish friends!

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#25

Snowfall In Spain

Snowfall In Spain

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#29

Man Skiing In Madrid During Rare Snowfall In Spain

Man Skiing In Madrid During Rare Snowfall In Spain

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bet everyone was rummaging through their attics looking for the skis and sleds to dust off and use!

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#31

The Greatest Snowfall In Over 50 Years Hit Madrid, Spain Today

The Greatest Snowfall In Over 50 Years Hit Madrid, Spain Today

Severe Weather Europe Report

#32

Madrid Has Seen Its Heaviest Snowfall Since 1971

Madrid Has Seen Its Heaviest Snowfall Since 1971

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#33

Biggest Snowfall In Madrid (Spain) In The Last 100 Years

Biggest Snowfall In Madrid (Spain) In The Last 100 Years

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