In many European countries, heat records were measured in the middle of winter at the turn of the year. Even in the mountain regions, the heat melted the snow.
– 15–16 degrees in Berlin on Monday, 18 degrees in southern Germany. After all, these are wildly high readings in the weather at the beginning of January, wonders ‘s meteorologist Matti Huutonen.
According to him, a broad low pressure brought mild air from the North Atlantic to Central Europe. At the same time, high pressure settled over Europe. Record temperatures were measured in, for example, the Czech Republic and Poland.
And in the Swiss Alps: 20 degrees warm!
In the Alps, some of the region’s resorts have opened cycling routes that normally operate in the summer season instead of winter sports. Skiing or skiing is currently impossible. Even at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters, the temperatures have been above zero. Only the Holiday Centers located in the highest areas operate normally.
Is skiing a high-altitude sport?
The BBC says that some Swiss resorts already warned a few years ago that it will soon be impossible for skiing enthusiasts at an altitude of less than a thousand meters.
For example, the Splügen ski resort is located at 1,500 meters and has been considered a snow-sure place. Now it too has had to close its doors for an indefinite period of time.
– It’s far too wet, like in spring. Different snow would be needed for skiing, this is too wet. Skiing is impossible, laments the manager responsible for skiing at the Splügen center Hacher Bernet.
Snowmaking is hampered by the lack of water
Cannon snow has also been invented, someone thinks. However, doing so requires a huge amount of water. In Switzerland, it is not to be wasted, because the region’s electricity is generated by hydropower.
In Switzerland, it has been calculated that the water consumption to make enough cannon snow would increase by 80 percent. It’s too much.
In the Alps, the Austrian side has the same problems as the Swiss. Even in Salzburg, part of the ski resort has already had to close its doors this season. It has been a big disappointment when the corona years, which severely cut tourism income, are behind us.
In Zell am See, the last snowfalls came in early December. Temperatures of ten degrees melted the snow and exposed the grass.
– When you go down the hill, it’s really strange to see green grass on both sides of the slope, amazes Rita Walter In an interview with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation.
The ski slopes are still in good condition in some places.
– The sky is blue, and there is snow. But it is clear that in the coming days and weeks there will be more snow, according to those who were contacted on the slopes Kurt Kneidinger.
In Central Europe, skiing holidays are scheduled for February-March. There is a little hope in the air that vacationers will be able to go on winter hikes. According to Matti Huutonen, the weather is becoming more wintry in mountainous regions. Maybe not this week, but next week.
Some of the ski resorts will not be saved either.
You can discuss the topic until Thursday 5.1. until 11 p.m.
Sources: BBC, CESKA TELEVIZE, TELEWIZJA POLSKA, TELEVIZIUNEA ROMANA, OESTERREICHISCHER RUNDFUNK