Skiing in danger: artificial snow saves Bavaria's slopes from climate change!

Skiing in danger: artificial snow saves Bavaria's slopes from climate change!

In the Bavarian Alps, skiing is in jeopardy as the challenges posed by climate change become more and more visible. Especially in the Fellhorn-Kanzelwand ski area, technical snowmaking is crucial given the current conditions. Henrik Volpert, board member of the Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal mountain railway, describes artificial snowmaking as “life insurance” for the peak season. In order to guarantee snow security around Christmas, sub-zero temperatures at night and the use of snow cannons in the morning are essential.

The need for technical assistance is compounded by the fact that natural snow is increasingly unreliable. In order to operate the snow production systems efficiently, they require around 70 to 80 hours of constant cold temperatures. A cold snap at the end of November 2025 allowed snowmaking to start early, which was beneficial for the current ski season. But while many slopes are still accessible at the moment, the future of the winter sports resorts is seriously endangered by rising temperatures and the shift in the zero temperature limit.

The zero degree limit and its effects

BR Data's analysis shows that the average winter zero degree limit in the Alps between 1961 and 1990 was around 1,100 meters. However, future projections from the United Nations suggest warming of 2.8 degrees by the end of the century. With such global warming, the zero degree limit is expected to rise to around 1,700 meters. This would have serious consequences for the ski areas: in Austria around 50% of the slopes are expected to be below this limit, in Germany only around 10%.

Smaller ski areas in particular will suffer from these conditions. Many are already switching to natural snow ski areas, which can only be operated when there is enough natural snow. Experts warn that technical snowmaking, although it is also possible at temperatures above zero degrees, could become economically questionable in the long term because it requires a lot of energy and water.

Investments in the future

However, in the Fellhorn-Kanzelwand ski area, investments are being made in modern snowmaking technology. A planned new reservoir with a volume of 170,000 cubic meters is intended to help improve snowmaking. But the building application for this storage pond will not be submitted to the Oberallgäu district office until 2026. In view of rising energy costs and the ecological consequences, Simon Eisele from the German Alpine Club has expressed concerns about the sustainability of such projects.

The situation is also complicated by the cessation of state funding for snow cannons from January 2024. The Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture justifies this step with the lack of applications for new snowmaking systems for two years, although state support via Bavarian regional funding or the federal government's funding for elite sports remains possible.

The challenges that ski areas have to overcome are numerous. Georg Bayerle from the Bavarian Radio's mountaineering editorial team emphasizes how important it is for ski areas to become more nature-friendly and sustainable, especially with regard to travel and energy consumption. Climate change is the biggest driver of this development and will have a lasting impact on the image of Bavarian winter sports resorts.

The “nah dran” podcast addresses, among other things, the question of how ski areas and organizers are dealing with the changed conditions and what alternatives exist to classic alpine skiing. Climate change is not only making skiing challenging, but the region's entire tourism infrastructure is also in flux.