Ski season slumping on snowless Swiss Alps
In a season traditionally associated with ice skating, snowball fights and mulled wine in wintry Europe, birds are chirping, flowers blooming and fake snow covering Alpine ski slopes in one of the warmest Decembers on record.
- A woman takes a photograph as she walks on a green field without snow, in the Swiss Alps, during Christmas in Leysin, Switzerland, Thursday Dec. 24, 2015. The snow has melted as a result of the mild temperatures throughout the last few days. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
- A musher with his dog-sled competes on a green field without snow in the Swiss Alps during Christmas in Leysin, Switzerland, Thursday Dec. 24, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
- A musher with his dog-sled competes on a green field without snow in the Swiss Alps during Christmas in Leysin, Switzerland, Thursday Dec. 24, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
- People ski on a slope covered with artificial snow surrounded by green fields in the Swiss Alps in Leysin, Switzerland, on Thursday Dec.; 24, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
- This file photo taken on December 12, 2015 shows a man walking on a snowless ski slope in the Swiss Alps resort of Davos. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
- Tourists carrying their skis walk on a snowless hill back to the resort of Leysin, Swiss Alps, on December 28, 2015. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
- Tourists ski on a thin layer of snow towards the resort of Leysin, Swiss Alps, on December 28, 2015. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
- Children from ski schools practice on a thin layer of snow near the resort of Leysin, Swiss Alps, on December 28, 2015. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
- A tourist skis on a thin layer of snow near the resort of Leysin, Swiss Alps, on December 28, 2015. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
- Tourists ski on a thin layer of snow back to the resort of Leysin, Swiss Alps, on December 28, 2015. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
- A skier uses a slope covered with artificial snow surrounded by green fields in the Swiss Alps in Leysin, Switzerland, Dec. 24, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
- People use a ski slope covered with artificial snow surrounded by green fields in the Swiss Alps in Leysin, Switzerland on Dec. 24, 2015. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)