Commuters Stranded as Storm Kristin Closes A1 Between Pombal & Leiria

Brisa Concessão Rodoviária has shut down the A1 corridor near kilometre 94, a decision that severed the country’s busiest north-south route and forced commuters to scramble for alternatives during the morning rush.

Why This Matters

• Southbound A1 closed between Pombal and Leiria from 07:53, with no reopening estimate as of mid-morning.

• A23 connector also blocked, removing the usual Torress Novas–Guarda detour and complicating east-west travel.

• Severe winds and fallen trees blamed; gusts exceeded 150 km/h overnight, part of a wider comboio de tempestades battering Iberia.

• Expect further closures in February as Portugal’s weather service warns of conditions ripe for the worst flooding in 25 years.

How the Disruption Unfolded

Traffic cameras picked up the first slowdown south of Pombal a little after sunrise. By 07:53, Brisa personnel—backed by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR)—had pulled orange barriers across the southbound lanes and were diverting vehicles onto local exits. At 08:26, crews were still clearing branches and inspecting drainage, signalling a closure that would last well beyond the usual weekday peak.

The Meteorological Culprit

Meteorologists link today’s chaos to Storm Kristin, the most recent low-pressure system in a relentless string of Atlantic fronts since late January. The Portuguese Weather and Sea Institute (IPMA) logged 150 km/h wind gusts along the Leiria coast overnight and more than 40 mm of rain in just three hours. These bursts, known locally as a comboio de tempestades, strip soil, topple trees, and fill roadside ditches faster than maintenance teams can react.

Detours and Real-Time Information

With the A23 interchange closed as well, long-haul drivers have only two straightforward work-arounds:

Take the IC2 national road—expect urban bottlenecks between Pombal and Coimbra.

Drop west to the A8 via Caldas da Rainha, adding roughly 50 km to a Lisbon–Porto journey.

Live updates are available on the Via Verde app, Infraestruturas de Portugal’s traffic map, and radio station Antena 1 (frequencies 87.7 FM north, 99.3 FM Lisbon). Overseas hauliers should also check Spain’s DGT platform, which covers cross-border routes.

What This Means for Residents

For commuters in Leiria, Pombal, and Coimbra, expect longer travel times, higher toll bills, and crowded rail services. The postal service CTT has already warned of delayed parcel deliveries in central mainland Portugal. Insurance experts note that fallen-tree damage is typically covered under the choque, capotamento e colisão clause of most comprehensive policies; drivers should photograph the scene before removal.

Looking Ahead: A Volatile February

Portugal’s Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has logged more than 5,400 weather-related incidents since 22 January—double the monthly average. Hydrologists fear saturated soils could translate into 1-in-25-year flood levels if the next Atlantic front hits during a spring tide. Municipalities from Aveiro to Santarém are checking levees and stockpiling sandbags, while the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) is reviewing whether speed limits on tree-lined stretches like the A1 should be temporarily lowered.

Residents are advised to keep a charged power bank, reflective vest, and basic first-aid kit in their vehicles through February. If you must drive, ANEPC recommends maintaining double the normal braking distance and avoiding overtaking near forested embankments.