Many ski resorts in France face having to turn off snow cannons because of an “unprecedented” drought that threatens to ruin tens of thousands of winter holidays.
The machines have proved vital in the northwestern Alps this season, artificially creating ski runs in stark contrast to the surrounding bare mountainsides during weeks of unseasonably dry weather.
They will be switched off at more than 50 resorts in the Haute-Savoie region if there is no snow by the weekend, The Times reported today.
Last month was the driest December in Haute-Savoie for 135 years, with just 0.2mm of rain falling in Annecy. Many resorts recorded their 50th day without natural snowfall last week.
Pierre Lambert, head of the regional government, said: “We are in a situation of drought, to the point that without snow or rain by the end of [this] week I will be forced to make a drought stoppage.”
The ban would prohibit ski resorts from producing artificial snow using water from the mains network. Water could still be used from mountain reservoirs, but most are severely depleted after heavy use during the Christmas and new year holiday.
“This is an unprecedented drought. We have data from the 19th century in Annecy, and we have never seen such a situation before,” Serge Taboulot, head meteorologist for the northern Alps at Météo France, said.
In many resorts in the region the snow cover was the worst for 20 years, he added. Ninety per cent of French mountains were said to be affected after below-average snowfall since the summer.
Just a handful of slopes are open for skiing at many resorts in the area – many of which are covered entirely in artificial snow.
Most of the worst-affected resorts are clustered in Portes du Soleil, one of the world’s largest continuous ski areas which includes Les Gets, Morzine and Châtel.
Nearby La Clusaz and Chamonix have no natural snow at village altitude and are heavily reliant on artificial snow to keep their slopes open.
The Ski Club of Great Britain describes the pistes in Les Gets, where 40 slopes are closed because of lack of snow, as “hard packed” with just 5cm of snow at the base of the resort.
Some “modest” snowfalls are forecast for later this week in the French Alps, but at lower altitudes resorts are likely to remain reliant on artificial snow.
Other Alpine countries have also suffered. Switzerland recorded its driest December in 150 years, but recent snowfalls have bolstered conditions at its resorts.