Cervinia summer skiing halted as warm spell hits high Alps

One of Europe's most celebrated summer skiing destinations, the Zermatt Cervinia area on the Italian-Swiss border, has suspended operations as unseasonably warm weather leaves the high-altitude slopes without sufficient snow, according to the ski industry publication the-ski-guru.com.

The closure affects a resort that normally draws skiers through the summer months to the glacier runs above the Aosta Valley town of Cervinia and the Swiss village of Zermatt. The site reported that the famous summer skiing venue is "waiting for a change in the weather" before lifts can turn again.

The development comes as a broader heatwave grips much of Italy, with nearly all major cities placed under the highest heat alert from Monday, according to the BBC and The Local Italy.

For the Aosta Valley, the interruption of summer skiing at Cervinia carries particular weight. The resort is one of the few in Europe that can offer skiing year-round, a draw that sustains tourism well beyond the winter season and supports hotels, restaurants and lift operators on both sides of the Matterhorn.

The region's economy leans heavily on mountain tourism, and summer skiing has long been a distinctive asset, attracting visitors from across Europe who combine alpine hiking with glacier turns. A prolonged closure would squeeze a key shoulder-season revenue stream for local businesses already navigating the broader pressures of climate change on alpine tourism.

The ski publication's report did not specify how long the closure might last, noting only that the resort is awaiting cooler conditions. Forecasts for the coming days, as cited by the BBC, point to continued high temperatures across Italy, suggesting the pause could extend beyond a brief interruption.

The situation echoes a wider trend in the European Alps, where warming temperatures have made summer glacier skiing increasingly unreliable. Resorts across the mountain range have invested in snowmaking and glacier protection measures, but the current warm spell appears to have outpaced those efforts at Cervinia.

For now, visitors heading to the Aosta Valley for summer turns are advised to check conditions before travelling, as the resort's reopening depends entirely on a shift in the weather.