Alps summer ski resorts face mass closures due to heat

Extreme heat and long-term climate warming are forcing the early closure of summer ski resorts across the Alps. Most traditional glacier skiing destinations have been forced to shut down due to shrinking glaciers and deteriorating conditions.

As of mid-August, Passo Stelvio in Italy remains the only operational glacier ski center in the Alps. Other major resorts have already ended their seasons, including Saas-Fee in Switzerland, which closed on August 10, and Zermatt/Cervinia, which suspended skiing on the Theodul glacier on August 1.

In Austria, Hintertux ended its operations on July 19, earlier than planned. French resorts, including Tignes and Les 2 Alpes, also saw their summer seasons conclude in mid-July. These closures are attributed to the combination of receding glaciers and intense heatwaves.