Weather
When people think of Greenland, they typically think of endless winters and constant snow. But that is not the case this season.
The Nuuk, Greenland, ski resort Sisorarfiit Skiliften has not opened for the first time in 25 years. To blame? Warm temperatures and no snowfall, forcing the resort to pause operations and hold off on opening for the season. While the resort recently announced an opening date for Friday, March 20, this season’s slow start falls in line with various places around the world.
Sisorarfiit Skiliften typically opens for operation in December, but the warm temperatures never let the resort open. According to the Dutch Meteorological Institute, Nuuk’s January saw a record-breaking average temperature of 32.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.1 degrees Celsius). A typical January day in Nuuk is around 12 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 11 degrees Celsius).
Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city, typically receives around 48 inches of snow per year—a relatively low amount compared to the rest of Greenland due to the city’s coastal location. However, Nuuk will hold snow for roughly seven months of the year due to the cold temperatures. When snow falls there, it stays. But this winter, the issue is the lack of snowfall that is forcing Sisorarfiit Skiliften to put a hold on opening until late March.
“This year’s drought is unprecedented for Sisorarfiit,” the resort wrote in a Facebook post. “This year it is the snow-poor season, and therefore it is a fight for Sisorarfiit.”
This year has been a struggle for not only Nuuk’s ski area but for various resorts across the world. Many Utah ski resorts, famous for having epic early seasons, were forced to delay their opening days as they awaited colder temperatures and more snow. Some resorts across the United States are also being forced to close early as temperatures climb earlier than expected.
While Greenland’s climate and weather patterns are quite different than those of the United States, the lack of snowfall and warmer winters remain as consistent challenges faced by both regions. As the seasons begin to change in the world’s northernmost territory, all Greenlanders can do is hope the weather brings more snow so its most beloved resort can provide favorable conditions for an awesome season.
