Ski Resorts Struggle as Warm Weather Decimates Snowpack

Resorts in the Western US forced to bulldoze snow onto runs to stay open as climate change takes a toll.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ski resorts across the Western United States are facing an unprecedented challenge this season as record-low snowfall and brutal heat waves have forced many to close early or never open at all. Resorts like Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico have had to resort to bulldozing snow from mountain areas onto their runs just to stay operational, while others like Park City in Utah have seen streets and restaurants normally packed with winter tourists remain quiet. Climate experts say this winter's snowpack levels are on track to be the lowest on record, a trend they attribute to long-term climate change.

Why it matters

The dire ski season has major implications for the $20 billion US ski and snowboard industry, which supports over 190,000 jobs. The lack of snow also raises wildfire risks at higher elevations and threatens water supplies for major cities that rely on snowmelt. The situation highlights the growing threat that climate change poses to winter sports and the economies that depend on them.

The details

Ski resorts across the West have been forced to take drastic measures to stay open, including bulldozing snow from mountain areas onto their runs. In Park City, Utah, streets and restaurants that would normally be packed with winter tourists are quiet, with the resort receiving only about half its normal snowfall. In Colorado, resorts like Vail have had to close the majority of their trails due to lack of snow. Climate scientist Daniel Swain says snowpack is on track to be the lowest on record at almost every western ski destination, attributing the trend to long-term climate change.

  • In the week to Thursday March 26, temperatures in the Western U.S. have been 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit (11-17 Celsius) higher than normal, breaking daily records in over 150 locations.
  • More than half of the 120 ski resorts in the U.S. West have already closed, will close early, or never opened this year due to the mild winter that saw record-low snowfall.

The players

Daniel Swain

A climate scientist and associate researcher with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Rob Katz

The CEO of Vail Resorts, which operates 37 ski resorts across North America.

Abby Freireich

A Park City, Utah visitor who has been coming to the ski area for about a decade.

Zachary Freireich

Abby Freireich's 11-year-old son who had to dodge rocks and puddles while skiing at Park City.

Allison Buffum

The owner of the Saved by the Wine restaurant in Silverthorne, Colorado, where business is down 10-15% due to the lack of snow.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a remarkably bad snow year, not just one basin, but across most of them. It's really just been a tale of astonishing warmth throughout the West.”

— Daniel Swain, Climate scientist

“This has been the most challenging winter across the Rockies that we have ever experienced with the lowest snowfall levels in more than 30 years for our Colorado and Utah resorts.”

— Rob Katz, CEO, Vail Resorts

“It's otherworldly, almost like a sci-fi landscape, the terrain, so much of it is closed off or not skiable.”

— Abby Freireich, Park City visitor

“There is no snow on the mountains. It was a pretty horrific winter, the worst since 1976.”

— Allison Buffum, Restaurant owner, Silverthorne, Colorado

“The rising temperatures, it's pretty insane. This is not natural.”

— Maylyn Bubala, Oregon State University student

What’s next

Climate experts warn that the trend of declining snowpack and warmer temperatures is likely to continue, posing an existential threat to the ski industry if drastic action is not taken to address climate change.

The takeaway

This ski season crisis underscores the urgent need for the ski industry and local communities to adapt to the realities of climate change, whether through investing in snowmaking technology, diversifying winter tourism offerings, or advocating for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of global warming.