Winter Road Access

Hello,

What are the road treatment/access like in winter? Does Spain suffer the same as the UK with the wrong kind of snow/rain/wind/dust etc making major roads "impassable" and littered with stranded "idiot" drivers?

Specifically:
1. The N92 from Granada to the North East. I have read mentions of the road being closed. Is this regular/frequent? What happens in those situations? Do you just have find some hotel/hostel to sleep in till the roads reopen? Or are there alternate routes home?

2. Local roads around the cuevas. Do they become impassable till the thaw? Or are they manageable with care (and snow/ice chains!)

3. When does the real snow hit the Granada area? What do you do when that happens? Hunker down at home or are you still able to get about for provisions?

4. What kind of transport would you need out there to be usable all year round? Do you really need a 4x4 or would a standard (front wheel drive) small family hatchback be enough?

TIA

Cuch

The A92 goes over a mountain pass called the Puerta de la Mora which can become impassable when it snows.   They tend to close it rather than risk vehicles getting stuck up there. It's good to phone (011) or check online ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] before setting out if you think there might be a problem. 
It's a good idea to carry snow chains too - on some roads it will be compulsory to use them if it's snowy.
There is an alternative route from / to Granada - look othe map, but from Granad it's the road to Jaen, turning off to Iznalloz, then on to rejoin the A92 by Diezma. This road is less likely to be closed because it doesn't climb so high.
If you do get stuck, there's roadside hostals at regular intervals, except in the mountains.
Closer to home, I've seen 5 winters here, and never been snowed in - the snow tends to fall on the higher ground more than on the Altiplano itself. It might depend on exactly where you live tho.

we stopped in a hotel in the mountains on our way here, it snowed overnight, by the time we had had bfast the plowes had been out ant it was cleared and so was the car park. also came off ferry one time and heavy snow over santander the plows were out and road constantly cleared and even where snow had not arrived they were waiting at every junction. on small roads our friends have had ice on the steep hills but we havnt seen it yet.

Ah cool, so Spain has the right gear and know how to use it. Excellent!