Never so little snow in Trentino Alto Adige: down to minus 75%

It was hoped to the end. In March, the month that historically records the peak of snow accumulations in Italy, everyone hoped that the weather would reverse the negative trend. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen and we are now in spring. All that remains is to take stock. The Alps, the largest water reservoir in Italy, are dry and 2023 marks less than 63% of snowfall. Negative trends throughout Trentino Alto Adige, with peaks down to minus 75%.

This was revealed by a research group of Eurac Research of Bolzano which, in collaboration with the University of Trentoanalyzed the historical data on snowfall made available by the autonomous provinces and by the Meteo Trentino Alto Adige association, interpreting them in relation to the altitude ranges and other climatic parameters.

The results of the analyzes were published in the International Journal of Climatology. As, if in March you can usually count on 10-13 billion cubic meters of water, meteorologists explain, today we are down to 4 billion. Worse than last year when we had 6 billion cubic meters of water.

Too hot

So is a 2023 repeat of 2022 being announced? It really seems so, at least when looking at Italy from the Alps. And now at risk is the mechanism that guarantees water resources throughout the country. According to the researchers, the cause of this 2023 without snow is a general increase in temperatures, due to climate change, which occurred both at the beginning and at the end of the season. Only in the heart of winter, between January and February, and around 2,000 meters of altitude, was the snowfall stable or even growing in a few measuring stations such as those of the Rolle and Tonale passes, with an increase of about 15%. But then it got hot and the high temperatures melted it right away. In the 18 selected stations there was an increase in average temperatures of around 1.54 degrees, but with peaks of up to 3 degrees. Any examples? According to researchers a San Candido snowfall decreased by 26% ad Go there by 21%.

Second Michele Brunetti, researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Climate Sciences of the CNR in Bologna who conducted a study on the snowpack published in the journal Nature Climate Change: “At 2000 meters the duration of the snow today is the same as that recorded a few decades ago at 1,700 “. As if to say, he explains, “As if the ski resorts of Cortina, during the next Olympics in 2026 compared to the previous ones in 1956, were located 300 meters lower”.

It rains at high altitudes

It hasn’t snowed but it has rained at high altitudes, but this doesn’t seem entirely good news. Because the transition from snow to rain has negative consequences not only for skiing activities. “Snow is essential because it protects glaciers and the ground by hindering evaporation and, slowly melting in spring, gradually replenishes water reserves. Without snow, the risk of drought is greater“, explains James Bertoldi Eurac Research hydrologist. Due to the heat, precipitation remains mainly in the form of rain.

Italy presents itself in these conditions at the beginning of spring: with a record deficit of rain and snow. In fact, the water that arrives from the snow usually begins to fill the large basins of the valley floor as early as April. But what will happen now? Experts grappling with the drought alarm look at our mountains and think of solutions. There is only one certainty: we need water. More than last year.