Unusually hot weather forced the closure of a popular resort in the Alps — Bild
Abnormally high temperatures forced the closure of the ski resort on the Stelvio Glacier in the Italian Alps. It was the last major summer ski resort in Europe that had remained open.
Normally, the slopes on the Stelvio Pass in South Tyrol are open from May through November, but this year, due to the prolonged heat, operations were suspended early.
The main problem is that high temperatures persist even at night, preventing the snowpack from freezing. In addition, the region is regularly hit by severe thunderstorms. According to the operators, under these conditions, they can no longer guarantee the proper quality of the slopes or the safety of skiers.
In mid-August, abnormally high temperatures were recorded in the high-altitude areas of the Italian Alps, ANSA reports. On the Forni Glacier at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, the temperature reached 17 degrees Celsius, while at the Passo Marinelli pass at an altitude of about 3,000 meters, it was 9 degrees.
Due to the heat, the Swiss resorts of Zermatt and Saas-Fee had previously suspended summer skiing. Operations on the Stelvio had already been suspended in the summer of 2022, but at that time, the slopes were able to reopen after about two months. Operators hope that a cold snap will make it possible to do the same this time around.
“I don’t think this can be sustained in its current form in the long term. We can try to artificially keep the resort running, but it won’t be the same as what nature currently provides us in the mountains,” said hydrologist Roberto Dinale.
Earlier, the Matterhorn and Ponte di Legno ski areas also had to be closed.
Source: Bild.
In France, the July heat wave caused more than 1,200 deaths.
We previously reported that France will once again be hit by a heat wave reaching 40 degrees.
In France, officials estimate that the extreme heat may have caused more than 2,000 deaths in a single week. According to preliminary estimates, a significant number of fatalities may be directly linked to prolonged exposure to abnormally high temperatures.
