By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Australia's Ski Season Threatened by Unseasonable Warmth and Diminished Snowfall
Australia's snow season is in jeopardy as unseasonably warm temperatures have reduced snowfalls to nearly half the usual amount for this time of year, experts warn. The early arrival of spring, driven by global warming, suggests the season may have already peaked, with snowfields rapidly diminishing due to higher temperatures and rain.
The season began slowly in June, but a significant snowfall in July boosted the snow depth at Spencers Creek to 124 cm, a promising figure. However, ongoing high temperatures have melted this down to around 100 cm, nearly half the historical average, according to Georgy Falster, a climate scientist at the Australian National University.
Falster, who has personal experience skiing at Perisher, noted that two meter snow depths in August were once typical. She emphasized that snow depths have generally decreased since records began in the 1950s, and seasons are expected to continue ending earlier as global warming persists.
Local businesses are already feeling the impact. Ryan Backhouse, who works at a snowboard rental shop in Jindabyne, near New South Wales' Snowy Mountains, reported that snowfields and tourists are disappearing faster than usual. "The snow is not looking too crash hot," he said, noting that snow coverage in August is noticeably sparse despite this traditionally being the peak snow depth period.
The warm conditions have also affected the local environment, with trees and flowers blooming and residents in normally chilly Jindabyne walking around in shorts and T shirts. Thredbo Village has experienced several days with temperatures exceeding 10°C in August, well above the long term average of 6.7°C.
Last year, similar warm weather forced lower altitude ski resorts to close weeks ahead of schedule, and this season is on track for a similar outcome, according to climate scientist David Karoly, a councillor with the Climate Council and an avid skier. The prospect of consecutive early closures has locals, businesses, and seasonal workers concerned. While there is some optimism about incoming snow in the next few weeks, Backhouse noted that an early season end would be catastrophic for many.
Some ski lifts in NSW’s Perisher Valley have already closed, weeks ahead of the traditional season end in early October, Falster said. Resorts have turned to artificial snow to maintain operations, and the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more snow for alpine areas in Victoria and NSW in the coming days.
Despite these short term measures, climate models predict that shorter winters and rising temperatures will continue to reduce snowfall and shorten ski seasons across Australia. "We won’t have to wait very long until there won’t be natural skiable snow," Karoly warned.
A report from ANU, commissioned by advocacy group Protect Our Winters, indicates that the average length of ski seasons is projected to decrease from the current 105 days to 81 by 2030, and just 70 days by 2050, even with significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The report also highlighted that local towns, tourism industries, and ecosystems that depend on snowfields could face severe challenges if snowfalls continue to decline.
Sam Beaver, policy lead at Protect Our Winters, called for greater government support to help alpine communities and industries adapt and reduce their dependence on shrinking snowfields. "Unless we get on top of climate change and start coordinating action to adapt to its impacts in the alpine regions, we're going to see some negative consequences," he said. "It's devastating to see the changes already taking place."
