Last weekend’s storm once again left Madrid without its large green lung. The City Council activated the red level of the adverse weather protocol and ordered the complete closure of El Retiro and eight other large parks in anticipation of wind gusts of up to 70 km/h and the risk of falling branches and trees, a measure that has already become a winter routine in the city. Behind each lock is a system of alerts, thresholds, and daily bulletins that decide when it is safe to walk under the trees and when it is better to keep the gates closed.
In the episode in mid-February, the gates were closed early in the morning and remained so throughout the day, with municipal police and park staff informing walkers at the entrances.
The measure is taken on the basis of warnings from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET): a yellow or orange warning for wind in the city can translate into a red alert within these areas, as the combination of strong gusts and tall, often aging trees increases the risk of falling branches. Since the tragedy in 2014, when falling branches caused fatalities in El Retiro, the City Council has tightened these protocols and applies them systematically.
This is how the Retiro protocol works: four levels and several thresholds
The main thresholds are:
- Green alert (normal): gusts of up to 40 km/h with temperatures below 35ºC and dry ground, or winds below 30 km/h even if it is very hot or the ground is very wet. At this level, the park operates normally.
- Yellow alert: activated with gusts of between 40 and 50 km/h if the temperature is below 35ºC and the soil does not exceed 75% available water, or with winds of 30-40 km/h combined with intense heat or very wet ground. Below this level, El Retiro is not closed, but risk areas are marked and prohibited: children’s areas, sports and senior areas, and enclosed gardens such as Cecilio Rodríguez.
- Orange alert: declared with gusts of 50-65 km/h (or 40-55 km/h if the temperature is above 35ºC or the ground is very wet) or with snowfall of 5 to 20 centimeters in 24 hours. In this scenario, access is restricted, all outdoor activities are suspended, and access to large wooded areas is restricted.
- Red alert: this causes closures such as those seen in recent days, with gusts of 65 km/h or more, temperatures below 35ºC and relatively dry ground, or from 55 km/h if it is very hot or the ground is very wet; also with snowfall of more than 20 centimeters. At the red level, El Retiro and the other eight parks are completely closed and evacuated, all activities are suspended, and access is prohibited.
What happens before reopening: tree-by-tree inspection
Editorial credit: Shutterstock
The closure due to wind does not end when the storm subsides. Once AEMET lowers the warning level and the protocol leaves the red phase, teams of gardeners, tree technicians, and firefighters tour the parks to conduct a complete visual inspection: they locate broken branches, leaning trees, or cracked trunks and prioritize actions.
According to the City Council, until the fallen branches are removed, the damaged trees are cleaned up, and it is verified that there are no trees at imminent risk of breaking, the fences are not removed and the entrances are not reopened. In the most severe cases, this inspection can take several hours and even require some areas to remain closed even though the rest of the park is available again.
The recurring closure of El Retiro and other parks on days of strong winds or extreme heat has generated political debate and discontent among many Madrid residents, especially when the conditions do not appear serious at first glance. However, municipal technicians point out that the park covers more than 120 hectares and has trees that are often centuries old, with large and fragile specimens where a 70 km/h gust can cause unexpected fractures.