Europe’s Heatwave Set to Hit Alpine Glaciers Hard
It is the second heatwave to hit the Alps so far this summer with more predicted.
The French resort of Tignes opened its Grande Motte glacier for summer skiing and snowboarding last weekend and it is already suffering.
The resort claims a snow depth of 100cm on the glacier, but some will melt in the current heatwave.
The glacier itself is 40m thick but it is feared this may all have gone in the next decade.
According to Clément Colin, CEO of Altta, the new company managing the ski lifts in Tignes, “in ten years, the glacier will have almost completely melted.”
In Switzerland Level 3 and 4 heat warnings issued by the government are set to remain in place until Tuesday, according to the meteorological service MeteoSwiss.
“At the moment, however, it looks as though we will have to extend the heat warning beyond Tuesday,” said MeteoSwiss.
There have been several heatwaves in Switzerland lasting several days in June in the recent past.
These include 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2025.
The first heatwave in May hit the glaciers hard, though it came after good Spring snowfall.
The rising temperatures are being driven by hot air moving north from the Sahara desert in Africa.
This traps hot air over the affected areas, with forecasters suggesting the conditions could result in one of the longest heatwaves in recent years.
Scientists have said that recurring heatwaves are a marker of global warming.
Météo-France notes that of the 51 heatwaves recorded in France since 1947, 34 have taken place since 2000 and 26 since 2011.
The Alps and the Pyrenees are affected.
See our related article on where skiing and snowboarding is on offer this summer:
Summer skiing in Val d’Isere. Image © Olivia Angus/PlanetSKI
Here at PlanetSKI we will be updating shortly once the impact of the heatwave becomes clearer on the currently open glacier ski areas.
Do check back….
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