A Swiss Ski Destination Faces Lost Snow as Climate Shifts
The Alpine resort cluster of Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis could see its natural snowy slopes dwindle by the end of this century due to rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. This assessment comes from the press service of the University of Basel and highlights a growing climate risk for the region’s ski industry. [Attribution: University of Basel press service]
Current climate models project more winter precipitation overall, but increasingly in the form of rain rather than snow. In spite of this shift, investments in ski infrastructure continue, including ongoing expansion projects in the Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis area, one of Switzerland’s best-known ski destinations. [Attribution: University of Basel press service]
Researchers led by Erika Hiltbrunner at the University of Basel and her team set out to quantify how feasible reliable ski conditions would be at the resort, both with and without artificial snowmaking. They gathered data on slope profiles, historical snow formation, timing, and water usage. Using this information, they built a model anchored in current climate forecasts and specialized software to simulate snow conditions across the resort. [Attribution: University of Basel press service]
Their findings indicate that with snowmaking technology, a 100-day ski season could still be achieved in the higher elevations above about 1800 meters. Yet, cooler weather windows that normally allow natural and artificial snow to accumulate are becoming shorter around the Christmas period, raising the likelihood of disruptions during that holiday frame in coming years. Stronger snowmaking efforts may ease some of these gaps, but they are unlikely to eliminate the problem entirely. [Attribution: University of Basel press service]
Researchers note that many people underestimate how specific weather conditions must be for snow creation. For effective snow production, temperatures need to be low enough and humidity controlled; if it is too warm or too humid, evaporative cooling insufficiently supports the water droplets to freeze and fall as snow. The model also forecasts a significant rise in water demand for snow production across the resort, driven by longer seasons and more extensive use of artificial snow. Overall water use could jump by roughly 80 percent, elevating winter consumption from about 300 million liters today to around 540 million liters by century’s end. [Attribution: University of Basel press service]
These projections underscore a broader reality for alpine tourism: ski regions must adapt to a climate where precious cold snaps and reliable snowfall are less certain. The study’s scenario planning illustrates not only the engineering limits of snowmaking but also the environmental and logistical considerations tied to water resources, energy use, and seasonal planning. As the climate continues to warm, resort operators may increasingly rely on a mix of natural snow, enhanced snowmaking, and diversified winter offerings to remain resilient. [Attribution: University of Basel press service]