Much of Europe is now experiencing hot weather. Ski resorts have been deserted due to a lack of snow.
In France, the cumulative average temperature on the last day of 2022 was more than 8 degrees Celsius warmer than the daily reference temperature for 1991-2020, according to the French national meteorological service Météo-France.
Ski resorts in the Alps, especially in the lower regions, have temporarily closed their slopes as warm weather and heavy rain wash away the December snowfall.
Laurent Reynaud, managing director of Domaines Skiables de France, the national organization representing ski resorts, said half of the 7,500 ski slopes in France are currently closed due to “lack of snow and lots of rain”.
Some resorts are adapting, replacing ski rentals with mountain bikes, while others are using artificial snow.
Earlier, Euronews showed a series of photos showing the lack of snow in Europe during the winter. The footage shows skiers skiing on green slopes and “bald” hills without snow.