Europe’s Ski Resorts Shut Down Amidst Unseasonably Warm Weather and Lack of Snow

Posted: January 8, 2023 7:30 am

It has been a dismal ski season for most of Europe thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures. Thousands of ski resorts have been forced to close down during what is typically the busiest time of the year thanks to warm temperatures and a lack of snow. Unfortunately for those itching to hit the slopes, the mild weather is forecast to stick around in the short term.

Half of Ski Resorts in France Closed Because of Lack of Snow

While the bulk of Europe has seen a mild winter, the resort areas of the French Pyrenees and the northern Alps have experienced the most disruptions to the winter sports industry. For instance, not enough snow has forced two resorts in the area of Portes du Soleil to partially close. Aerial footage of the ski runs show large patches of grassy area where snow usually sits.

Officials in France report that about half of its country’s 7,500 ski slopes are not operating during the first week of January. Not only is a lack of snow a problem but moisture falling as rain is washing away any of the snow that is on the ground.

This weather is a significant problem for organizers of the World Cup skiing event, set to happen the first weekend of January. The event is scheduled to happen at the Adelboden ski resort in Switzerland. The resort is relying on artificial snow to pull off the competition.

Record-Breaking Temperatures Not Helping Ski Resorts and Snow Production

It is no surprise to learn of the ski resort closures if you have been following the weather across Europe over the last several weeks. New Year’s Day was the warmest January day in recorded history for many nations across the continent, particularly for those in the northern tier. This includes Belarus, Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands.

December was also unseasonably warm for the majority of Europe. France recorded its warmest December in over 20 years with more mild air in store for the coming weeks. In addition, forecasters are warning that widespread snow is likely to hold off for at least another week. Whether enough snow will fall in the upcoming weeks to salvage the ski season is yet to be known.

UK Records Warmest Year in the History Books

The mass ski resort closures come as the UK revealed new information on Thursday, demonstrating that 2022 was the warmest year ever recorded for the country. According to the official data released by the UK Met Office, the average annual temperature for the country was over 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time since records were kept beginning in 1884. This reading eclipsed the old record from 2014. The average annual temperature from the time period between 1991 and 2020 was about 48 degrees.

The Met Office report detailed that England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all saw these record-breaking temperatures for 2022. In addition, the study confirmed that a good part of the warmth can be blamed on climate change. Dating back to 1884, the top 10 warmest years recorded for the UK have all happened since 2003.

The new year has started just as warm with forecasters predicting that the mercury will remain elevated throughout the upcoming week. England and Wales are forecast to see the warmest temperatures of the Commonwealth with slightly cooler temperatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland. While there will be sporadic times of cold air and wintry precipitation, the long-range forecast is calling for more unseasonably warm weather in the weeks to come.

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