Alpine ski resorts are closing after unseasonably warm weather turned snow to slush, threatening the prospects of holidays for hundreds of thousands of Britons.
Low-altitude resorts in France and western Switzerland are the worst affected, after torrential rain and mild temperatures obliterated the snow pack. The situation is better in Austria and Italy, although more snow is needed.
Many bosses are holding crisis meetings about whether resorts can remain open, with others saying the “heartbreaking” situation has forced them to close. More than half of all ski slopes in France are closed.
The travel trade body Abta predicts that 1.7 million Britons will ski this winter, with the busiest period over February half-term. This month and March are the most popular periods for those not
