Ski holidays in the Alps could become a thing of the past, scientists warn - as figures reveal snowfall has plummeted by a THIRD since 1920
Share:
It is one of the world's most popular destinations for skiing and home to some of the most prestigious resorts. But scientists warn that ski holidays in the Alps could soon become a thing of the past. Scientists from Eurac Research found that snowfall plummeted by a third between 1920 and 2020.
![[There are growing concerns that skiing in the European Alps may become impossible as the number of days of snow cover reduces. This was the scene at the closed Dent-de-Vaulion ski lift on February 2 amid a lack of snow at altitudes below 1500m]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/04/13/80876407-14156933-SWITZERLAND_This_was_the_scene_at_the_closed_Dent_de_Vaulion_ski-a-32_1733317568534.jpg)
In some regions, the situation is even more dire as records reveal a reduction of almost 50 per cent across southwestern slopes. While the data extends back 100 years, snowfall levels only began to fall sharply from 1980 onwards. The researchers note that this coincides with a sharp increase in average air temperatures around the world due to human-caused climate change.
![[The fall reduction in snowfall across the Alps (left graph) from the 100-year average (dotted line) came alongside a sharp increase in mean air temperatures (right graph) which began in the 1980s due to human-caused climate change]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/04/13/92785263-14156933-The_fall_reduction_in_snowfall_across_the_Alps_left_graph_from_t-a-43_1733318778921.jpg)
In the worst-affected regions in the Southern Alps including Italy, Slovenia and Austria, these changes could threaten the future of winter sports. Lead researcher Michele Bozzoli says: 'The decrease in snow has an impact not only on winter sports, but also on all activities and processes that rely on water.'.
![[Resorts at lower altitudes and in the warmer Southern areas of the Alps were worse affected as rising temperatures caused precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow. Pictured: Skiiers attempt to make the most of the conditions with the Lans en Vercors ski resort in France lacking snow on January 27]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/04/13/80876409-14156933-FRANCE_Skiers_slide_on_a_tongue_of_snow_in_the_middle_of_the_gra-a-33_1733317574995.jpg)
Ski holidays in the Alps might be a thing of the past as researchers find that snowfall has fallen by a third over the last 100 years. This map shows 46 sites across the Alps, red arrows show regions where snowfall has fallen by more than 30 per cent. There are growing concerns that skiing in the European Alps may become impossible as the number of days of snow cover reduces. This was the scene at the closed Dent-de-Vaulion ski lift on February 2 amid a lack of snow at altitudes below 1500m.
![[Previous research suggests that ski resorts in the Australian Alps (pictured) could cease to be economically viable as the days of snow cover could fall below 100 days]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/04/13/82414899-14156933-Ski_resorts_in_the_Australian_Alps_pictured_could_cease_to_be_ec-a-30_1733317375041.jpg)
