A popular ski resort in California has taken drastic measures following warmer than average temperatures and a lack of natural snow.
What is going on?
As CBS News reported, Boreal Mountain, California, got off to a particularly warm start to its winter season in late November.
It had experienced above average temperatures and a notable lack of substantial storms for the region. As a result, officials at the ski resort have turned to snow machines to ensure that winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy their time.
“We probably used 500 gallons of snow to put the product we have on the slopes,” said Tucker Norred, Boreal’s director of marketing.
“It was just a waiting game with temperatures. We blew as much snow as we could to make sure we could open safely for our guests.”
However, snowmaking machines can often require high water consumption, contributing to the depletion of nearby water supplies.
The process of making ice can also be energy intensive, often powered by polluting fuels such as gas or coal.
Why is the lack of snow in the Boreal Mountains a concern?
While the resort has managed to keep the artificial powder and its trails open to visitors, the weather is a departure from what the area is used to.
On average, Boreal Mountain can see about 400 inches of snow per season. This is enough to cover the 41 trails that are normally open to the public.
“To be honest with you, the last seven years that I’ve been here, I’ve never seen this dirt. I’ve never seen this rock,” said Jackson Price, a longtime visitor to the ski resort, per CBS. “It snowed straight from the pasture.”
According to US Drought Monitor data, a large majority of the state was marked as drought-free as of early December.
In fact, less than 17% of California was experiencing even “abnormally dry” conditions on December 2nd. This marked a massive change from the “3 Months Ago to Current” data, which showed that more than three-quarters of the state was lying in abnormally dry or drought conditions.
Rising temperatures have had a major impact on historical climate patterns in many regions around the world. This has resulted in the intensification of extreme weather events, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. As seen in California, this can lead to unpredictability in weather forecasts.
What is being done about rising global temperatures?
Many governments have begun pushing legislation aimed at limiting reliance on dirty, planet-warming fuels and promoting the widespread adoption of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.
For example, in Poland, parliament officials have reduced barriers to the delivery of wind energy projects.
In California, however, experts recognized the importance of taking steps to mitigate the effects of a warming climate.
“The dizzying pace of drastic change underscores the need for California to invest in the resilience of Sierra-Cascade communities and landscapes, restoring forest health and economic vitality, so the Region can adapt and thrive in a changing climate,” noted the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
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