Historic Winter Woes: Destructive Snow Depletion Hits High Notes in the Alps
- Hey there!*
Extremely cold weather causes multiple low temperature records at Alpine snow levels. - Mountainous regions in the Alps enduring low snowfall this season
A miserably dry winter has resulted in record-breaking low snow depths across numerous mountains in the Alps. Germany's highest ski area at the Zugspitze saw the least amount of snow recorded since the winter of 1971/72, as reported by the German Weather Service, Geosphere Austria, and the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss. The number of snowy days decreased by 10-40% comparative to average winters.
The driest winter in nearly 90 years
The only considerable snow accumulation occurred at the end of November and the beginning of December, yet it failed to prevent the snow shortage significantly. The winter half-year in the Bavarian Alps was even drier from November 1933 to April 1934, as stated by the meteorologists. During this time, merely 400 liters of precipitation per square meter fell, compared to approximately 470 liters in the past winter half-year.
Below average precipitation
This is a considerable drop compared to the average of roughly 730 liters for the years 1991 to 2020. However, the winter half-years of 1971/72, 2010/11 (with around 480 liters), and 1948/49 (with 485 liters) were nearly equivalent, as claimed by the German Weather Service. The absence of precipitation in winter, when evaporation and vegetation water consumption are minimal, has less impact than a longer summer drought.
Less snow in the mountains equates to fewer meltwater sources, which play a crucial role in seasonal flooding in the North Alps, particularly when continuous rainfall occurs.
Fear of glacier loss this year
Resembling past patterns, the weather services anticipate a notable reduction in glaciers for this year. Plentiful wet-mild winters and wet-cold summers are essential for glacier preservation; however, since the temperature spike around 1990, such conditions have rarely occurred, thanks to climate change and increasing spring and summer sunlight exposure.
As opposed to rain and snow, the Central and Eastern Alps saw unusually abundant sunshine during the winter, due to sturdy high-pressure weather systems. Summit areas were about 1.6°C warmer than the long-term average, but sometimes slightly colder in the valleys. Despite the lower temperatures in the valleys, the overall situation proved less dramatic in Switzerland, according to the meteorologists, with the Bernese and Valais Alps experiencing average-to-satisfactory snow conditions as a whole.
Since the late 19th century, the Alps have experienced temperatures rising more drastically than the global average, making them highly sensitive to climate change and the ongoing environmental crisis.
Fun fact: Did you know?pow! Due to the unseasonably warm winter, skiing enthusiasts were introduced to a newer, more exciting variant – "Sunskiing." This novel practice involves relishing the sunshine,colored slopes, and taking advantage of modern artificial snow-making technology to enjoy the hills!
While record-breaking skiing participation rates of 61.5 million visits were recorded in the 2024/25 season, core winter sports such as alpine skiing, snowboarding, and alpine touring gained popularity, with participants spending an increased number of days on the snow. Simultaneously, activities like snowshoeing and sledding saw declines, reflecting shifts in winter recreation preferences possibly influenced by the snow conditions.
The record low snow depths in the Alps during the 2024/25 winter half-year were largely influenced by several interrelated climatic factors:
- Intentional warming: The winter half-year from November 2024 to April 2025 was about 1.6°C warmer than the 1991-2020 average across the Alpine region, with summit temperatures approximately 1.9°C above average and lower altitudes about 1.4°C warmer.
- High-pressure weather predominance: The season had an above-average number of high-pressure weather systems, which often reduce precipitation and encourage dry, stable conditions, leading to diminished snowfall opportunities.
- Dry weather spells: Prolonged dry spells impeded snowfall accumulation even at high elevations.
- Transition of precipitation from snow to rain: Higher temperatures transformed precipitation into rain instead of snow at lower and medium elevations, dwindling snowpack in these areas.
- The unprecedented warm winter in the Alps has raised concerns about the employment policy in ski resorts, as the low snow depths may impact tourism and the seasonal jobs that come with it.
- To address this issue, local communities could consider implementing community policies to support affected workers and stimulate green initiatives focused on environmental sciences, such as combating climate-change and promoting environmental-science research for sustainable snowmaking and long-term glacier preservation.
