Australian ski resorts to close up to a month early due to global heating and El Niño
Summary
Australian ski resorts are closing their ski seasons up to a month early due to unusually warm winter weather, low snowfall, and heavy rain. Scientists say a strong El Niño and climate change have caused higher temperatures, making snow melt faster and reducing skiing conditions.Key Facts
- Seven major Australian ski resorts have closed early or will close this weekend, including Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Falls Creek, and Charlotte Pass.
- Ski resorts usually stay open until early October but are closing earlier because of warm weather and little snow.
- El Niño, a Pacific Ocean weather pattern, is causing hotter and drier conditions in southeast Australia this winter.
- Climate scientists report that alpine winter temperatures in Australia have risen about 2°C since the 1960s.
- Higher temperatures caused precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, which melts snowpacks quickly.
- Data show some resorts experienced their warmest and wettest winters on record, with rain washing away snow.
- The current El Niño is forecast to be the strongest on record and has been made more likely by climate change.
- New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria had their hottest winters ever recorded in 2024.
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