Alps snowfall dropped by a third in 100 years, new study shows

Snowfall across the Alps has dropped by a third in 100 years, a new study reveals.

It’s well known that the snow cover on ‘Europe’s rooftop’ is getting patchier. But the study led by scientists at the Eurac research centre in Italy is one of a few to take a long and wide-ranging view of the situation.

Between 1920 to 2020, it charts an average 34 per cent decrease in snow over the entire Alps, with southwestern slopes especially impacted.

“There is a markedly negative trend in terms of fresh snowfall in the Alps,” says Michele Bozzoli, environmental meteorologist at Eurac and lead author of the study. 

“In particular, a notable decrease was observed after 1980. This date also coincides with an equally sharp increase in temperatures.” In other words, climate change is dramatically altering the face of Europe’s highest and widest mountain range.

Combining handwritten notes and high-tech weather data

Data on seasonal snowfall and rainfall was collected from 46 sites throughout the Alps, from France to Slovenia.

The most recent came from modern weather stations, while historical data was gathered from handwritten records by specially appointed observers who recorded how many inches of snow fell at a given location. 

Eurac has created an extensive picture of the Alps over 100 years in partnership with numerous meteorological offices, environmental agencies, volunteer groups, and the University of Trento.

Which countries are losing the most snow, and why is it a problem?

The picture varies from 23 per cent less snowfall in the northern Alps, to a drop of almost 50 per cent on the southwestern slopes.

“The most negative trends concern locations below an altitude of 2,000 metres and are in the southern regions such as Italy, Slovenia and part of Austrian Alps,” Bozzoli says.

In Alpine areas to the north, such as Switzerland and northern Tyrol in Italy, the researchers also noted the central role of altitude. 

Despite an increase in precipitation during the winter season, snowfall is increasingly turning to rain at lower altitudes as temperatures rise in line with greenhouse gas emissions. 

In more southerly areas, temperatures have risen to such an extent that – even at higher levels – rain is frequently dominating snowfall. 

That’s bad news for a number of reasons, Bozzoli explains. “Snow is crucial as a water reservoir, it feeds glaciers, mountain streams and, as it melts slowly in spring, replenishes water reserves gradually.” 

Skiing and tourism are also vital to the economies of these areas and they can’t go ahead without snow.

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“The decrease in snow has an impact not only on winter sports, but also on all activities and processes that rely on water. This aspect can no longer be ignored in the policy planning of water management.”

The study, published in the International Journal of Climatology, also highlights the important reflective properties of snow – which further influence regional climate patterns.