Climate Change and Skiing: The Future of the Italian Alps

The Alps are warming at twice the global average rate. Over the past 50 years, the mean temperature across Italy’s mountains has risen by approximately 2 degrees C, with concrete consequences for skiing and the entire mountain economy. This is not alarmism: it is the reality with which Italian ski resorts contend every day.

The data: what is happening

Rising temperatures

The Alps are warming at 0.3 degrees C per decade
The 0 degree C isotherm (the altitude at which the temperature is 0 degrees) has risen by approximately 400 metres since 1970
Days with above-zero temperatures in winter at 1,500 m have increased by 30%

Declining snowfall

The duration of the snow cover at 1,500 m has shortened by approximately 30 days over the past 50 years
Snowfall below 1,500 m has decreased by 20-30%
Reliable natural snow is now found above 1,800-2,000 m (it was 1,200-1,500 m in the 1980s)

Glaciers in retreat

Italy’s glaciers are disappearing at an accelerating rate:

The Marmolada glacier, the largest in the Dolomites, has lost 70% of its surface area since 1900
Several small Apennine glaciers (such as the Calderone on the Gran Sasso) have already disappeared entirely
The Presena glacier, where summer skiing takes place, uses geotextile covers over exposed areas to slow melting

The impact on ski resorts

At-risk stations

The most vulnerable ski stations are those at low altitude:

Altitude band	Risk level	Examples
Below 1,200 m	Critical	Many small Apennine resorts
1,200-1,600 m	High	Monte Terminillo, Abetone
1,600-2,000 m	Moderate	Bormio, Cortina
Above 2,000 m	Low (for now)	Cervinia, Livigno

Closures and downsizing

Over the past 20 years, more than 200 small ski stations in Italy have closed permanently
Many Apennine stations have reduced their operating days by 30-40%
The costs of artificial snowmaking increase every year

Dependence on snowmaking

Today more than 90% of Italian pistes use snowmaking. But this technology also has limits:

Temperatures below -2 degrees C are needed to produce snow
Warm winter nights reduce the production window
Energy costs are rising
Storage reservoirs require enormous investment

For more on the technology, read our article on how artificial snow works.

Adaptation strategies

Italian ski resorts are responding with various strategies:

1. Moving higher

Many resorts are investing in new lifts at higher elevations:

Livigno: new lifts towards Carosello 3000
Val di Fassa: connections to areas above 2,500 m
New chairlifts and gondolas reaching higher summits

2. Diversification: the mountain beyond skiing

The most forward-looking strategy is transforming stations into four-season destinations:

Hiking and mountain biking in summer
Thermal baths and wellness: Bormio and its thermal spas
Gastronomy: refuges as culinary destinations
Adventure: via ferrata, climbing, paragliding
Culture: museums, events, local markets

3. Snowfarming

Snowfarming (snow preservation) is an innovative technique:

Surplus snow is accumulated in spring
Covered with insulating sheets, it loses only 20-30% during summer
It is distributed in autumn to allow earlier opening of lifts
Passo Stelvio has used this technique for years

4. Renewable energy

Some stations are installing solar and hydroelectric plants to offset snowmaking energy consumption:

Solar panels on lift buildings
Micro-hydro plants on mountain streams
Energy recovery from lifts during the descent phase

Future scenarios

Scenario 2040

With current trends:

Stations below 1,500 m will face growing difficulties
Snowmaking will become increasingly expensive and less efficient
Stations investing in diversification will survive
The large high-altitude resorts (Cervinia, Livigno, Val Gardena) will remain competitive

Scenario 2060

Reliable natural skiing only above 2,200-2,500 m
Many mid-altitude stations will become summer destinations with limited skiing
The ski season may shrink to 3-4 months (December-March) at Alpine stations
The Apennines will lose most of their skiing function

What the skier can do

Choose sustainable resorts: support stations investing in environmental responsibility
Avoid waste: do not demand perfect conditions at any environmental cost
Explore alternatives: ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
Support the local economy: refuges, local products, guides
Offset emissions: car journeys to the mountains have a significant impact

Skiing in the Alps will not disappear, but it will change profoundly. The adaptability of resorts and visitors will determine the future of this industry and this sport that we love.

For current conditions and the snow bulletin, consult our mountain weather service.