Rising temperatures are forcing some ski resorts to close, while leaving others at greater risk of extreme weather, according to experts. Avalanches kill about 100 people in Europe each year, with vast masses of ice, snow and rock regularly crashing down on hikers and skiers caught unawares.
The structure of the snow, angle of the slope and variation of the weather can dictate whether a gentle disturbance – like a gust of wind or the glide of a snowboard – can trigger a deadly shift in the mountain. Climate change is altering these factors, increasing the frequency and unpredictability of avalanches.
Ski resorts in lower-altitude areas are particularly vulnerable, as warmer winters reduce snowfall and shorten seasons, forcing closures. Meanwhile, higher-altitude resorts face greater avalanche risks due to more unstable snowpack conditions caused by fluctuating temperatures.
