{"id":115950,"date":"2026-08-15T22:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T22:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/115950\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T22:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T22:26:12","slug":"summer-glacier-skiing-ends-in-the-alps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/115950\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Glacier Skiing Ends in The Alps"},"content":{"rendered":"

15th August 2026<\/p>\n

The final open summer ski area, Passo Stelvio in Italy, has closed as the heatwaves take their toll.\u00a0For the first time in recent years there are no glacier skiing options on offer as climate change makes its relentless impact. NEW<\/p>\n

It was inevitable.<\/p>\n

Passo Stelvio suspended its skiing operations from Saturday 15th August.<\/p>\n

SIFAS<\/a> announced on the resort\u2019s website that skiing will stop after persistent heat, a lack of overnight refreezing, and frequent storms made conditions too poor to guarantee safe summer skiing.<\/p>\n

It said the decision was \u201cpainful but necessary\u201d due to weather conditions affecting the glacier over recent weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese factors make it impossible to guarantee the usual standards of quality and, above all, of safety required for summer skiing,\u201d said the ski area.<\/p>\n

The ski area said it will constantly monitor the situation and the conditions of the mountain in the hope of a drop in temperatures and an improvement in the state of the glacier.<\/p>\n

A change is unlikely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relentless heatwaves which have affected much of western Europe since the end of May, and the large number of violent thunderstorms with very high rain\/snow limits (sometimes as high as 4000m) have made it impossible to keep any summer skiing area in the Alps viable this year,\u201d said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe very hot weather currently afflicting the Alps should ease a little as we move through the second half of August.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s almost certainly too late to resurrect any summer skiing, and it will probably be deep into September before any of the glacier ski areas consider opening again.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the other traditional alpine summer glacier skiing areas closed earlier:<\/p>\n

Zermatt\/CerviniaHintertuxSaas-FeeTignes<\/p>\n

We have reported on the early closures on PlanetSKI:<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/p>\n

Passo Stelvio. Photo: pirovano.it, 15 August 2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a highly significant and unprecedented moment as for the first time in my lifetime that I can recall there are no areas open for summer skiing,\u201d said the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf any ski measurement was needed about the impact of climate change then this is it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have\u00a0 skied in the summer on all the various glacier options in the Alps over past decades, and urged others to do so while they still can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Summer\"Summer<\/p>\n

Summer glacier skiing in Les2Alpes, June 2017. Image \u00a9 PlanetSKI<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this precise moment it is now not an option,\u201d added James.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext summer may be different and we shall have to wait and see, but this is something of a landmark moment in my opinion and a sign of the situation to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

This record breaking summer for heat has had an impact in the mountains on more than just glacier skiing.<\/p>\n

\"Mont\"Mont<\/p>\n

Mont Fort glacier, Verbier. Image \u00a9 PlanetSKI<\/p>\n

We will be updating this post shortly, do check back\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news<\/p>\n

Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports \u2013 web site, social media & more.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

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