TL;DR
Mt Baw Baw Resort in Australia has announced an early closure of its 2023 snow season due to unseasonably warm weather conditions. The resort, located near Melbourne, will end its official snow season on September 3, affecting skiing and snowboarding activities. The lower altitude of the resort has made it more susceptible to the adverse effects of warming trends. The closure is attributed to a combination of limited natural snowfall, above-average temperatures, and the influence of an El Niño pattern. Despite the challenges, the resort aims to maintain limited access to the mountain even after the season ends. The announcement highlights the broader impact of global warming on the Australian ski industry, with other resorts also experiencing reduced snow cover.
On Friday, August 25, 2023, Mt Baw Baw Resort in Australia made an announcement. Due to unusually warm weather conditions, the resort is closing its doors earlier than expected. Alpine Resorts Victoria, the lift operator, declared that the official snow season at Mt Baw Baw will come to an end on Sunday, September 3, 2023.Situated just two and a half hours east of Melbourne, Mt Baw Baw reaches a peak altitude of 1,567 meters (5,141 ft). The resort boasts approximately 30 hectares (74 acres) of skiing and snowboarding terrain suitable for beginners to intermediates. This area is served by six lifts. However, the resort's lower altitude has made it more vulnerable to the unusual warmth compared to other resorts in Australia. Australia is currently experiencing the development of an El Niño pattern, characterised by high pressure systems dominating the continent. The tropical Pacific's sea surface temperatures are surpassing El Niño thresholds, expected to remain high until early 2024. El Niño typically leads to below-average winter and spring rainfall in the eastern Australian regions where ski fields are located. This season, a combination of limited natural snowfall and above-average temperatures has hindered snowmaking efforts, causing a significant reduction in the snow cover at Mt Baw Baw.
