Snow cover
Changes in snowfall and increasing temperatures have consequences on the main characteristics of the snow cover, reducing its qualities and the benefits obtained. The decrease in snow thickness can also affect ice thickness on lakes and the ocean, as well as ground temperatures.
These changes can have significant impacts on infrastructure and buildings, agriculture, hydroelectricity production, snow-related industries, as well as on other climate phenomena, such as flooding.
Impacts on flooding
In southern Quebec, early snowmelt causes earlier spring floods, meaning rivers swell earlier in the spring. This can lead to earlier flooding and many social, material and economic consequences.
Infrastructures and buildings
Due to climate change, winter precipitation is likely to be further disrupted. In addition to changes in snowfall, freeze and thaw events could occur earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Snowfall could be interrupted more often by rain.
These variations in winter precipitation result in irregular accumulation of ice and snow. The increased weight of ice and snow on buildings can weaken roofs, potentially leading to damage and significant reconstruction costs.
Impacts on agriculture
The agricultural sector may also be affected by the reduction in snow cover. During very cold winters, plant roots are more vulnerable to frost in the absence of snow cover. Perennial plants, such as fodder and berries, struggle to survive with reduced snow cover and the alternation of rain and snow.
Impacts on hydroelectricity
The decrease in snowfall reduces the accumulation of snow. This phenomenon reduces water reserves, which are needed for certain things like hydroelectricity generation.
For example, the lack of water in the reservoirs of large hydroelectric power plants, such as the La Grande and Manic complexes, has hampered the export of Quebec electricity and led to significant financial losses in 2023.
Winter activities
Various winter activities will also experience the consequences of the increase in the number of days without natural snow cover. The length of time when it is cold enough to produce artificial snow will also be shortened, particularly in November and December, due to rising temperatures.
In addition to the lower quantities, the quality of the snow cover could change with the increase in liquid precipitation during the winter, degrading skiing conditions and making accessibility to these sports more uncertain.
However, the reduction in snow can offer an opportunity for municipalities to reduce snow removal costs.
Active transportation can also be considered for longer periods in the winter on less slippery surfaces. For example, the extended autumn makes it possible to travel longer and more easily by bike on snow-free bike paths.
In 2019, Ouranos participated in a study aimed at helping ski resorts in the Eastern Townships include the effects of climate change in their strategic planning.
In 2024, Ouranos conducted an assessment of the alpine ski system’s vulnerability to climate change for the Association des stations de ski du Québec (Quebec ski resort association).
It identified the sensitivity factors (weaknesses) of ski resorts and the industry as a whole in the face of weather-related stress and shocks, as well as their adaptivity factors (strengths), i.e. factors enabling them to bounce back from or prevent climate-related impacts.
A vulnerability self-diagnosis tool was also developed to enable resorts to identify their main vulnerability factors and list the factors that contribute to their ability to adapt. This will allow them to better prioritize their climate change adaptation actions.
To promote adaptation measures throughout the industry, an industry-wide resilience plan was developed to guide the ski industry toward greater resilience in the context of climate change.
