Central and Southern Europe are grappling with a sudden warming at the turn of February and March. Thermometers in Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Berlin are showing values typical for late spring, reaching up to 23 degrees Celsius. This has resulted in massive snowmelt in mountainous regions such as the Harz, forcing operators to close most ski lifts and downhill runs before the end of the traditional winter season.
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The final days of February 2026 brought a weather anomaly to Central Europe that has effectively ended the winter season in many regions. A powerful anticyclone has settled over the continent, bringing masses of warm, tropical air. In Germany, temperatures ranged from 16 to 23 degrees Celsius, prompting meteorologists to declare the definitive arrival of meteorological spring. While the sun dominates in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Brandenburg, experts recommend so-called 'onion-style' layering due to significant temperature differences between sunny afternoons and still-cool nights. Unfortunately, for winter sports enthusiasts, the news is terrible. In the Harz mountains, rapid snowmelt has led to the closure of ski runs. Resorts that just days earlier enjoyed good attendance now report a lack of safe skiing conditions. This phenomenon fits into a broader trend of mild winters, which has been confirmed in reports from Austria. The winter there was classified as exceptionally dry and sunny, which, despite temporary snowfall records in cities like Berlin, makes it difficult to maintain a consistent snow cover in the lower parts of the Alps and mid-mountain ranges. According to data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the average winter temperature in Europe has risen by nearly 2 degrees Celsius compared to measurements from the mid-20th century, drastically shortening the ski season.Italy is also feeling the effects of the high pressure. Similar to the north, spring-like conditions with noticeable temperature fluctuations have taken hold in Italy. However, meteorologists from the Apennine Peninsula warn of an approaching front that may bring passing rain showers, without significantly reducing the overall heat balance. In Bavaria, the situation is somewhat more stable, though morning fogs are a reminder that the calendar winter is still ongoing.