February half term is usually a time when ski enthusiasts are almost guaranteed to find snow in Europe; But this year may be much more difficult. Instead of discovering fresh snowfall in many of the continent's resorts, families heading out on ski trips during the school holidays may struggle to find good conditions.
January was the warmest month in history, with 12-month global average temperatures rising above the 1,5 degrees Celsius threshold for the first time. Some parts of southern Spain experienced temperatures above 30 degrees; This is unprecedented for this time of year. At the end of last month, it was estimated that 28 percent of ski resorts in Europe such as Spain, France and Switzerland were closed.
Which countries were hardest hit and where are still worth visiting?
Snow cover across the Alps in Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia has decreased by 5,6 percent each year over the last half century.
This is according to research by the University of Padova and the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate in Bologna, Italy.
However, all is not lost for those who want to hit the ski slopes; This is the case in many of Europe's most popular holiday destinations.
France
Some ski resorts in France, particularly in the Pyrenees, have experienced unusually warm weather this year, leading to a lack of snow.
Considering these conditions, forecasters say it is unlikely that snow will be renewed in some resorts before the start of the semester break.
However, this is not all bad news, although numerous resorts in France are experiencing high temperatures at all altitudes, causing snow to melt in many areas.
Heavy snowfall at the beginning of the season left some parts of the country with hard snowdrifts up to 4,2 meters high in the Les Arcs region.
The wider 3 Valleys region also announced that 95 percent of its tracks will remain open for the foreseeable future. Snowier times: A tourist takes a photo from the “Peak Walk” suspension bridge on a winter day at the Glacier 3000 ski resort in Switzerland
İsviçre
In Switzerland, famous for its luxury and high-quality destinations, a similar number of resorts were forced to close. In January, a temperature of 1.800C was recorded in Savoie, Haute-Maurienne, at an altitude of approximately 8 metres; This is a situation that greatly worries climate experts.
Still, it's a solid destination for a ski trip this February. In many high-altitude resorts, skiers will have no shortage of snow if they choose their slopes carefully. Despite some strong winds, conditions get better as you climb.
Laax recorded the country's deepest snow on its glacier, which was more than 3,5 meters deep. Verbier and the Four Valleys also say about 95 percent of their land remains open.
Eastern Europe
If in doubt, you can head to Eastern Europe, where there are reports that conditions are good at higher altitudes, but less so at lower elevations. Very little snowfall was recorded across much of the region, but winter conditions are better than in the Alps, so any snow that falls is likely to remain.
Resorts Jasna and Borovets in Slovakia and Bulgaria announced that most of their properties are open and in ideal conditions.
But Bansko in Bulgaria is a place to avoid because currently only half of its land is skiable.
Austria
Since temperatures in Austria are not too high compared to other regions, the majority of holiday destinations were able to remain open.
While some Austrian holiday destinations experienced mainly warm and sunny weather in early February, In the Snow says that fresh snowfall is seen in higher altitude areas. In the Kitzsteinhorn in the west of the country, snow depth has been confirmed to be around 25 cm in the last few days.
Italy
Although bases in Italy's Dolomites have been hit worse than those in the Alps, the vast majority of runs are still accessible. Temperatures above 10 degrees are a concern, but 75 percent of the resorts around Sauze d'Oulx and Sestriere in the region called the Milky Way (Via Lattea) are still open.
Scandinavia
It's not high temperatures that are causing problems in Scandinavia, but high winds that have mostly affected resorts in Norway, forcing some to close.
The weather calmed down a bit as the week progressed, meaning much of the northern European region was home to excellent snow quality; Voss in western Norway reported a bottom depth of about 2 metres.
Why not think outside the box when it comes to Scotland?
Scotland may not be the first destination most people would consider for a ski trip, but it is becoming an increasingly popular destination as an option.
In January, all five ski resorts in the country managed to operate simultaneously for the first time this season. However, this did not last long as it was forced to close quickly due to intense storms followed by record high temperatures.
Conditions are a little better now; However, we recommend that you check the snowfall before setting off on your journey.
