The measure, which will be formally adopted at the next municipal Government Board meeting on May 7, adjusts the technical criteria for activating alerts. The orange alert, previously triggered by wind gusts between 40 and 55 km/h, will now be activated between 45 and 60 km/h. The red alert, which entails the park's complete closure, will apply from 60 km/h, instead of the previous 55 km/h.
“"This adjustment will allow for a reduction in the number of closures without compromising visitor safety."
The decision is based on a statistical analysis of data collected since 2014, which revealed that factors such as maximum temperature or soil moisture have less influence than previously thought on branch and tree falls during windy episodes. These elements were given more weight in the protocol approved in 2019.
Despite the controversy generated by the closures, the City Council has noted that the park's total closure has been infrequent. Between 2020 and 2025, El Retiro was closed due to a red alert only one percent of the time. However, during this brief period, 38 percent of tree and branch falls occurred, underscoring the importance of maintaining rigorous safety criteria in extreme conditions.
With this protocol update, the Madrid City Council seeks to balance risk prevention with public access to one of the capital's most emblematic green spaces, thereby reducing the days the park remains closed.
