Snow cover under threat at ski destinations worldwide

One in eight ski destinations will lose their natural snow cover because of climate change by the end of the century, an analysis published this month in the journal PLOS One suggests.

The chilling prediction points to falling snow cover in seven major mountainous ski regions worldwide, with potential effects for local economies, vulnerable species and winter sports lovers alike.

Researchers paired geographic data about current ski area locations and current snow cover days with climate models that predict what would happen in a variety of emissions scenarios. They looked at seven mountain regions worldwide: the European Alps, Andes Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Australian Alps, Japanese Alps, Southern Alps in New Zealand and Rocky Mountains.

Overall, they found annual snow days will “significantly decrease worldwide with climate change” under all three emissions scenarios. The Southern Hemisphere will be hit hardest, they predict, with 78% of ski areas in the Australian Alps losing more than half of their average snow days per year by 2100.

The United States will be affected, too, with the Appalachians losing 37% of their mean annual snow cover days and the Rocky Mountains losing 23%. The researchers note the Rockies will “remain relatively snow reliable” and can still count on an average of 202 snow-cover days per year by the century’s end.

Most concerningly, 13% of current ski areas will experience a 100% decrease in snow-cover days by the end of the century, the study says.

And the researchers project another 20% will experience a decline of at least 50%.

Highly populated areas will be affected more than those with lower populations, and year-round snow cover in current ski areas “will nearly disappear worldwide,” the researchers predict.