| The 2006/7 winter season was the warmest since | | | | 1800m enjoying good skiing conditions. But due to the |
| 1950 with, according to Météo France, | | | | entrenched public belief that there was no snow in |
| average temperatures 2.1 degrees higher than the | | | | the alps many skiers have stayed at home. |
| seasonal normal. This makes 2006/7 one of the | | | | With the threat of global warming turning into a |
| hottest winters in France since 1950 including those | | | | reality the chances are that we?ll see a repeat of this |
| of 1989/90 and 1974/75 both of which had | | | | seasons uneven snow distribution in the future. The |
| temperatures of two degrees above the seasonal | | | | problem, therefore, is one of altitude. Precipitation |
| norm. This has meant that rain/snow limits have been | | | | levels were no lower than average, it's just that any |
| higher this year than most winters, generally hovering | | | | snow that fell on lower lying slopes was frequently |
| around 1300m in February, but as high as 2000-2500 | | | | washed away by the rain which followed. |
| at the start of the season. As a result of this resorts | | | | So what does this mean for the future of skiing? |
| situated below 1500m suffered with little snow cover | | | | Many ski areas below 1500m will not be able to |
| on the lower slopes and the impossibility of making | | | | survive, or will have to diversify; so either those at |
| artificial snow, as temperatures were too high, | | | | high altitude such as Val Thorens, Chamonix or |
| resulting in many resorts having less than half their | | | | Zermatt, or the super domains such as The Three |
| normal snow base on their lower slopes in February - | | | | Valleys or The Portes du Soleil will survive. Skiers will |
| although this situation was rectified in March with | | | | more and more have to take advantage of the |
| above average precipitation than normal. | | | | prevailing conditions which poses additional problems |
| The British media certainly painted a bleak picture of | | | | for big resorts who take on their staff for fixed |
| the snow conditions in the alps. However, reports of | | | | contracts. Perhaps more people will take up cross |
| the death of the European ski industry were greatly | | | | country skiing and ski mountaineering, and sales in |
| over exaggerated and, although the season started | | | | snow shoes are increasing. |
| off badly, it improved at altitude with ski areas above | | | | |