Another Major Heatwave Hits the Alps

23rd August 2023

Last modified on August 25th, 2023

Temperatures have risen sharply with the freezing level now at a record-breaking 5,298m. It is having a devastating impact on the glaciers with fears of rockfalls. UPDATED

It is the third significant heatwave of this summer.

In Switzerland Meteo Suisse said that on the night of Sunday 20th and Monday 21st the freezing level above Payerne rose to a record 5,298m.

This is the highest freezing level ever recorded in the Alps since radio soundings began around 70 years ago

“An exceptionally powerful anticyclone and warm air of subtropical origin are currently ensuring scorching weather over the country,” MeteoSwiss said on its website.

Many measuring stations in Switzerland have set new temperature records in the second half of August.

It is only the third time such readings had been tallied above 5,000 meters.

The freezing level is generally around 3,500m – 4,000m in a typical summer.

The freezing level is much higher than the tallest mountain in the Alps, Mt Blanc, that stands at 4,809m.

The authorities in the Haute-Savoie region, which includes the French side of Mont Blanc, warned there are higher than usual risks of rockfalls and that new crevasses could open on some glaciers.

“We appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility and judgement and urged you, where possible, to delay taking the Normal Route up Mont Blanc,” said the Haute-Savoie authorities in a statement.

There have already been fatalities from rockfalls this summer.

Two hikers in separate groups die in Mt Blanc rockfall

In normal conditions in the summer between 100 to 200 people reach the summit of Mont Blanc each day.

Parts of the French Alps are under an orange heatwave alert.

Chamonix in the Summer. Image © PlanetSKI

Just four summer ski areas are currently open: Hintertux in Austria, Zermatt/Cervinia in Switzerland/Italy and Passo Stelvio in Italy.

Hintertux in the summer. Image © PlanetSKI

PlanetSKI was in Hintertux back in June for summer skiing, but there are now just 2kms of slopes open with a reported snow depth of 20cm at the top of the ski area.

PlanetSKI goes summer skiing in the Tirol

In the Alps the temperatures are rising at twice the global average.

A Swiss study last year found that its 1,400 glaciers had lost more than half their total volume since the early 1930s.

There has been a 12% decline in the past six years alone.

The high temperatures are causing the glacier to melt at an alarming rate and are making the mountains more unstable with rock falls and collapsing glaciers.

Numerous bodies of missing people have been found as the ice retreats:

Klein Matterhorn area. Image © PlanetSKI

Last summer in the Dolomites in Italy 11 people died as part of the Marmolada glacier collapsed.

Final death toll in Italian glacier collapse reaches 11

The the temperature at the time of the collapse was 12.7 °C.

Last weekend at the top of the Marmolada it was a record-breaking 13.3 °C.

“All the Alpine glaciers, at all altitudes, are above zero and the situation is quite critical”, said Claudio Tei, researcher and meteorologist at the CNR and the Lamma Consortium.

The heatwave has been caused by a sub-tropical anticyclone coming from Africa.

This huge and static anticyclone over southern Europe is creating a so-called “heat dome” that traps warm air under a blanket and heats up by compression.

The heat is expected to peak by early next week and the temperatures will then fall.