Record Warm Winter Brings Disappointing End to Snow Season

The Australian ski resorts have wrapped up their snow seasons early, marking a record low for snowfall and warmth in the region. For three out of the past four winters, similar lean conditions have prevailed. The trend is unmistakable: Australia’s warming climate is slowly strangling the life from its alpine regions.

June was unseasonably warm, with Perisher Valley recording 301 millimeters of precipitation – only 25 millimeters of which fell below zero degrees Celsius. July brought a modest dump of snow, but it came too late to establish a solid cover across lower alpine elevations. As the months dragged on, temperatures continued to soar, peaking at an astonishing 14.4C in mid-August.

The impact is being felt across the industry. According to CEO Josh Elliott, resorts have invested heavily in snowmaking and management infrastructure, but these efforts are not enough to stem the tide of a warming climate. Two lower resorts, Mount Selwyn and Mount Baw Baw, have already closed their doors for the season, with more closures likely to follow.

The downward trend in snowfall across Australia’s Alps is a decades-long phenomenon. Between 1955 and 2000, peak annual snow depth at Three-Mile Dam averaged 55 centimeters; by the past 25 years, that figure had fallen to 34cm – a reduction of nearly 40 percent.

As temperatures continue to rise, the winter snowline is slowly creeping upwards. Projections suggest that maximum snow depth may decline by more than 50 percent by 2050, even under a low-emissions scenario. The writing’s on the wall for Australia’s ski resorts – and it’s not a pretty picture.

Elliott’s assertion that Australian resorts are adapting to future climates through investments in snowmaking technology rings hollow. While new All-Weather Snowmaking Systems can produce snow in temperatures of up to +20C, they’re merely band-aids on the underlying problem. The industry is trying to keep pace with a changing climate, but it’s a losing battle.

The slow death of winter in Australia’s Alps has far-reaching implications beyond just skiing and snowboarding. What about the communities that rely on these areas for tourism and employment? What about the ecosystems that depend on these environments for survival?

The industry needs to consider more than just technical fixes or investment in infrastructure; it requires a fundamental shift in our approach to managing climate change, and a recognition that some regions may no longer be viable for certain activities.

As the industry looks ahead to the coming seasons, it’s clear that something needs to give. Will Australian ski resorts continue down this path of gradual decline, or will they take bold steps towards a more sustainable future? The answer lies not in new technology or infrastructure, but in our collective willingness to adapt – and to confront the harsh realities of a changing climate.

As we bid farewell to another poor snow season, one thing is certain: Australia’s alpine regions are running out of time.