With unseasonably high temperatures plaguing Europe, minute snowfalls have forced Austrian ski slopes to carve paths of artificial snow for skiers to use. Their view coming down the mountain? Rolling hills of greenish-brown grass. See how the climate crisis is impacting the typically snowy slopes of the Alpines.
A man pulls a child on a sled next to an artificial snow slope in Filzmoos, Austria, during warm weather with temperatures above the freezing point on Jan. 6, 2023. Due to unusual warm temperatures of the last days, there is a lack of snow in the ski areas. (CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)Cross-country skiers make their way on a cross-country ski run covered in artificial snow as grass covers the rest of the meadow on either side on Jan. 6, 2023 in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria. (Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)People skiing on a slope near Schladming, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Matthias Schrader/AP)People skiing on a cross country slope in Ramsau, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Matthias Schrader/AP)People skiing on a slope in Filzmoos, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Matthias Schrader/AP)People skiing on a slope near Schladming, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. Sparse snowfall and unseasonably warm weather in much of Europe is allowing green grass to blanket many mountaintops across the region where snow might normally be. It has caused headaches for ski slope operators and aficionados of Alpine white this time of year. (Matthias Schrader/AP)People skiing on a cross country slope in Ramsau, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. Sparse snowfall and unseasonably warm weather in much of Europe is allowing green grass to blanket many mountaintops across the region where snow might normally be. It has caused headaches for ski slope operators and aficionados of Alpine white this time of year. (Matthias Schrader/AP)Skiers descend on a slope covered in artificial snow as grass covers the rest of the hill on either side on Jan. 6, 2023 in Filzmoos, Austria. Alpine ski resorts in Austria, Germany and Switzerland are facing an unseasonably warm January that has brought record temperatures to many parts of Europe. (Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)People walk during a sunny day in Ramsau, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. Sparse snowfall and unseasonably warm weather in much of Europe is allowing green grass to blanket many mountaintops across the region where snow might normally be. It has caused headaches for ski slope operators and aficionados of Alpine white this time of year. (Matthias Schrader/AP)People skiing on a cross country slope in Ramsau, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Matthias Schrader/AP)People skiing on a cross country slope in Ramsau, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Matthias Schrader/AP)Skiers descend on a slope covered in artificial snow as grass covers the rest of the hill on either side on Jan. 6, 2023 in Filzmoos, Austria. Alpine ski resorts in Austria, Germany and Switzerland are facing an unseasonably warm January that has brought record temperatures to many parts of Europe. (Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)People pass a slope in Filzmoos, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Matthias Schrader/AP)Cross-country skiers make their way on a cross-country ski run covered in artificial snow as grass covers the rest of the meadow on either side on Jan. 6, 2023 in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria. (Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
