Record winter in parts of Europe forces ski slopes to close
Record winter weather in Europe has closed ski slopes and forced resorts to open summer runs or close them altogether as grass and mud replace seasonal snow from Chamonix in France to Innsbruck in Austria.
Eight countries across the continent recorded their hottest January day ever, with temperatures in parts of Switzerland and southern Germany exceeding 20°C and 90 monitoring stations in France setting new records in the new year.< /p>
MétéoSuisse, the service Meteorological and Climate Institute of Switzerland, said a mild southwesterly wind combined with a Foehn effect produced temperatures on the northern slopes of the Alps "worthy of June". ”.
The Swiss resort of Adelboden, which is hosting a World Cup skiing event this weekend at its classic Chuenisbärgli course, said the near- This year's entire race will be on artificial snow terrain, with temperatures above freezing even at 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
"The climate is changing, but what should we do here? Are we going to stop with life? said course director Toni Hadi. "Everything is difficult - not just preparing a ski slope."
Altitude is no guarantee of immunity. The eastern Swiss resort of Splügen, long considered as "snow-sure" at 1,500 meters, on Monday closed all 30 km (18 miles) of runs until further notice, citing "lack of snow, heavy rain and high temperatures".
< p class="dcr-h26idz">Hacher Bernet, the resort's lift manager, explained why to Swiss television cameras. Picking up a handful of dripping snow, he said: 'It's really too wet. of, as in the spring. For skiing, the snow has to hold - there is simply too much water.In France, Météo France said 2022 ended with some of the hottest weather ever for the time of year. Snowfall was near normal in the southern Alps and at higher altitudes in the north, but very rare below 2,200 meters and in the Pyrenees.
" There was a good start to the season, with a cold spell in mid-December which provided snow for just about everyone,” said Laurent Reynaud, from the association Domaines skiables de France ( DSF), which represents ski lift operators.
"But last week there was quite a bit of rain and warm temperatures, so the slopes had to close again." Only half of the slopes in France were open during the holidays...
Record winter weather in Europe has closed ski slopes and forced resorts to open summer runs or close them altogether as grass and mud replace seasonal snow from Chamonix in France to Innsbruck in Austria.
Eight countries across the continent recorded their hottest January day ever, with temperatures in parts of Switzerland and southern Germany exceeding 20°C and 90 monitoring stations in France setting new records in the new year.< /p>
MétéoSuisse, the service Meteorological and Climate Institute of Switzerland, said a mild southwesterly wind combined with a Foehn effect produced temperatures on the northern slopes of the Alps "worthy of June". ”.
The Swiss resort of Adelboden, which is hosting a World Cup skiing event this weekend at its classic Chuenisbärgli course, said the near- This year's entire race will be on artificial snow terrain, with temperatures above freezing even at 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
"The climate is changing, but what should we do here? Are we going to stop with life? said course director Toni Hadi. "Everything is difficult - not just preparing a ski slope."
Altitude is no guarantee of immunity. The eastern Swiss resort of Splügen, long considered as "snow-sure" at 1,500 meters, on Monday closed all 30 km (18 miles) of runs until further notice, citing "lack of snow, heavy rain and high temperatures".
< p class="dcr-h26idz">Hacher Bernet, the resort's lift manager, explained why to Swiss television cameras. Picking up a handful of dripping snow, he said: 'It's really too wet. of, as in the spring. For skiing, the snow has to hold - there is simply too much water.In France, Météo France said 2022 ended with some of the hottest weather ever for the time of year. Snowfall was near normal in the southern Alps and at higher altitudes in the north, but very rare below 2,200 meters and in the Pyrenees.
" There was a good start to the season, with a cold spell in mid-December which provided snow for just about everyone,” said Laurent Reynaud, from the association Domaines skiables de France ( DSF), which represents ski lift operators.
"But last week there was quite a bit of rain and warm temperatures, so the slopes had to close again." Only half of the slopes in France were open during the holidays...
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