Passo dello Stelvio closure ends summer skiing in the Northern Hemisphere

Summer skiing in the Northern Hemisphere has effectively ceased following the suspension of operations at Passo dello Stelvio in Italy on August 15. The resort cited high-altitude heat waves, a lack of freezing nighttime temperatures, and repeated storms as factors that compromised glacier safety and snow quality.

This closure marks a significant milestone, as it leaves no publicly accessible outdoor ski areas operating on natural snow in the Northern Hemisphere. Previously, other major destinations such as Les Deux Alpes in France and Timberline Lodge in the United States had remained operational into July, but they have also concluded their summer seasons.

In Europe, Austrian glaciers like Hintertux and Tignes have also moved away from year-round or extended summer operations. The disappearance of summer skiing is attributed to the rapid melting of glaciers, which makes terrain increasingly unstable and difficult to manage for safety standards.