Warming Winter Olympics

Analysis of 19 Winter Olympic host cities shows an average February warming of 4.8 °F since 1950, with some cities like Oslo warming by 9.8 °F. A University of Waterloo study indicates that under a high-emissions scenario, only one host city (Sapporo) would reliably provide safe and fair outdoor snow sports conditions by the 2080s. The Paralympic Games face higher risks due to their typical March scheduling, which coincides with warmer temperatures and a higher probability of rain.

• Since 1950, February temperatures in the 19 cities that have hosted the Winter Olympics have increased by an average of 4.8 °F, which is approximately three times the global average warming of 1.59 °F for the same period.
• Specific host cities show varying degrees of warming since 1950: Oslo and Lillehammer, Norway, experienced the highest increases at 9.8 °F and 9.2 °F respectively, while Squaw Valley, California, saw the lowest increase at 0.8 °F. Beijing's February temperatures rose by 8.9 °F, and the 2026 hosts, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, warmed by 5.9 °F.
• A University of Waterloo study projecting conditions based on rain, wet snow, snow coverage, and temperature thresholds (below 14 °F or above 30 °F) finds that by the 2080s, only one city (Sapporo) would remain reliable for safe and fair February conditions under a high-emissions scenario. Under a low-emissions scenario aligned with Paris Agreement goals, eight of 21 host cities would be reliable by the 2080s.
• The Winter Paralympic Games are at greater risk than the Olympics because they typically occur in March, when temperatures are higher and rain is more likely. Shorter Northern Hemisphere winters by 2100 may push these events closer to the spring thaw.

APA

Climate Central (2022). Warming Winter Olympics. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-winter-olympics

Chicago

Climate Central. Warming Winter Olympics. 2022. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-winter-olympics.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Warming Winter Olympics |date=2 February 2022 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-winter-olympics |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2022warming, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Warming Winter Olympics}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/warming-winter-olympics}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }