Why weather may be putting the future of the winter Olympics in doubt

PHOENIX — The Olympic Games are well underway in Milan and Cortina. But the outlook is in doubt for future winter Olympics because many of the potential host cities are getting warmer. 

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A warmer climate, even high in the mountains, can really affect conditions for these athletes. Without colder temperatures or sufficient snow on the ground, they may face rain, wet snow, or not enough snow at all.

It’s been 70 years since Cortina first hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956.  In that time, the town’s average February temperature has warmed by 6.4° F, according to data analyzed by the independent research group Climate Central. That 6.4 degrees may not seem like a lot, but it’s a big change when talking about the long-term climate. 

That warming trend has led to fewer freezes. Cortina now sees 41 (19%) fewer freezing days annually than when the Games were first held there in 1956.

But Cortina is not the only location showing that long-term warming trend.  According to Climate Central, all of the cities to host the Winter Olympics since 1950 have warmed since then…by an average of nearly 5° F

Due in large part to that warming, a recent Climate Central data analysis suggests that the number of reliable host locations is dwindling as the planet warms. Out of 93 potential host sites, only 52 would have reliable conditions for the Winter Olympics by the 2050s. 

The Paralympic Winter Games, which are held in March, face even greater risks with only 22 (out of 93) climate-reliable locations in the 2050s.

We can even look right to our own backyard. Salt Lake City, which is set to host the winter Olympics in 2034, is experiencing a severe snow drought this winter.  The city has only received 0.1 inches of snow so far this season (as of 2/14). That’s just 1/10th of an inch. Normal is more than 37 inches.  

Just one more example of how Earth’s changing climate could affect where future winter Olympic sites may not be cold enough or snowy enough to hold the games.

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