French ski resorts invest heavily in snow-making

Ski resorts in France have invested 555 million euros in snow-making facilities in 2025, according to a survey by Montagne Leaders in collaboration with Atout France and Domaines Skiables de France. This significant investment aims to ensure snow coverage even during warmer winters.

Warmer winter forecast threatens snow-making investments

Météo-France has predicted that the October-December 2026 quarter will be warmer than normal across mainland France and Corsica. This forecast could render a large part of the snow-making investments unusable, as artificial snow requires temperatures below freezing.

Court of Auditors highlights inefficiency of snow-making

The Court of Auditors reported in March 2024 that 13.6 percent of investments in snow guns may serve no purpose. This suggests that some of the snow-making infrastructure may not be effective under current and future climate conditions.

Artificial snow needs cold temperatures to function

Artificial snow is produced by projecting water into the air, where it freezes into microdroplets. This process requires temperatures around -2°C. If such temperatures are not met, the snow guns cannot function, making the investment in them ineffective.

Unprecedented heat and dryness in September 2026

September 2026 was the second hottest on record since 1900, with a temperature anomaly of +3.1°C and nearly 70 percent less precipitation than normal. This dry and hot month is part of a trend of increasing temperature anomalies and reduced rainfall.

Wet weather complicates snow-making efforts

Météo-France predicts a wetter than normal quarter for much of mainland France in late 2026, except for the Southeast. This means more rain instead of snow, which further challenges the ability of ski resorts to rely on artificial snow-making.

Investments in snow-making have plateaued

Snow-making investments have stagnated in 2025 after years of growth. Instead, new mechanical lifts have become the main focus, accounting for 281 million euros of the total investment, which is half of the total spent by ski resorts.

Snow-making does not guarantee economic returns

An analysis of 56 Alpine lift operations over fifteen years showed that the expansion of snow-making technology did not lead to the expected economic benefits. Despite increasing the share of slopes equipped for artificial snow, profitability did not match the investment levels.

Climate change is outpacing adaptation efforts

The predicted warmer conditions for the end of 2026 are part of a larger trend of climate change. This warming is altering the conditions for ski resorts faster than they can adapt, raising concerns about the long-term viability of snow-dependent infrastructure.