Will this winter be good for skiing in Europe? Expert predictions on where will get snow this year

Europe’s ski resorts could face a ‘bleak future’, a report warned last week.

Warm and unpredictable weather has left slopes snowless in recent years - a trend that’s already impacting this winter’s ski season.

Yet another French resort recently took the tough decision to close its lifts for good after suffering a lack of snow, dwindling visitor numbers and growing debt.

French resorts aren’t the only ones struggling: high temperatures last February also left ski towns in Austria, Bosnia, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on their knees. Those at low and medium elevations were worst affected, leading to overcrowding at high-altitude resorts.

As we emerge from the hottest summer on record, is this downward spiral set to continue into winter 2024/25?

Here’s a look at this year’s ski season outlook in Europe.

Climate change is the prevailing factor behind Europe’s increasingly high temperatures.  However, in 2024 this was supercharged by El Niño - a natural weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean where changes in pressure cause warm water to flow East, bringing with it excessive heat.

As we move out of this climate system, La Niña is expected to take over which, in contrast, has a cooling effect.

That could make this year’s winter cooler than the last - but will it be enough to boost Europe’s ski resorts?

According to the UK’s Met Office, La Niña could increase precipitation, potentially bringing heavier and more frequent snowfall. The weather system typically means a cold start and a mild end to winter in western Europe - so it could be best to get your ski holiday in early this year.

But since La Niña can be affected by other global climate drivers, it’s impact is hard to predict. A three-month indication released by Météo France last