Swiss ski resorts, including Dent-de-Vaulion, face deserted slopes as temperatures soar above average

A Swiss ski resort has found itself deserted this winter season, as unusually mild weather has caused snow to melt on the slopes, leaving ski lifts and resorts vacant. Dent-de-Vaulion, nestled in the Swiss Jura Mountains, is one such example, where the normally bustling winter destination is now eerily quiet during the peak season.

Switzerland, renowned for its ski tourism, is warming at a rate twice as fast as the global average, a trend attributed to the country’s mountainous geography trapping heat. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this change is exacerbating the impact on winter tourism.

January saw temperatures more than 2°C higher than the typical average for the period between 1990 and 2020, according to MeteoSwiss. “We are breaking records so frequently that it no longer feels extraordinary, even though it truly is,” said meteorologist Christophe Salamin.

The weather on Friday in Dent-de-Vaulion, situated at over 1,400 metres (4,593 feet) above sea level, reached a warm 9°C, far surpassing the usual January temperature of around -1°C. Predictions for next week suggest even warmer temperatures of around 11°C.

The effects of rising temperatures are also apparent in the decline of the ski industry. An NGO, Mountain Wilderness, highlighted that last year, 65 ski lifts were left to rust due to a lack of snow and consistently high temperatures.

In the Jura mountain range, which stretches across Switzerland, France, and Germany, tourism plays a vital role in the economy. While skiing is a popular activity, hiking and cycling along routes like the Jura Ridgeway, a 190-mile-long trail, have also become significant draws for visitors.