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
Industries that depend on the availability of fresh water in spring and summer (agriculture, hydroelectricity, etc.)
Snow-related industries, such as winter sports
Other climate phenomena, such as flooding
Impacts on river basins
A considerable proportion of the flow of watercourses is due to the melting of winter snow. Some watercourses are fed directly by melting snow, while others are fed by groundwater reserves: the aquifers.
During the spring melt, if there is a lot of snow, the flow of water is prolonged and intense, fully recharging the aquifers.
If, in addition to this, snowmelt occurs early, the risk of spring flooding due to rivers swelling earlier in the spring also increases. This occurs in southern Quebec.
In the opposite case, when the snow is not very deep, as is the case during snow droughts, the recharge of aquifers and the flow of rivers are reduced, leading to low water levels. This can lead to hydrological droughts and increased costs for all of the sectors that depend on this meltwater for the warmer seasons.
Impacts on 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.
Decreased snow accumulation reduces the water reserves available to certain sectors that need them, such as hydroelectricity. For example, in 2023, the lack of water in the reservoirs of large hydroelectric power plants such as the La Grande and Manic complexes hampered the export of Quebec electricity abroad and led to significant financial losses.
Impacts on biodiversity
In very cold weather, in the absence of snow cover, plant roots are more vulnerable to freezing. Perennial plants such as fodder and berries struggle to survive with reduced snow cover and the alternation of rain and snow. This situation can expose the agricultural sector to economic losses and environmental damage.
Snow depth influences the mobility of both mammals and their hunters. A thick layer of snow limits the movements of large mammals like bison, but makes it easier for hunters to move around on snowmobiles.
In the opposite situation, when snow depth is low, mammals move more easily and hunters’ movements are less efficient.
As a result, low snow depths can reduce winter hunting rates by reducing hunters’ access to boreal mammals. This can affect the food security of certain communities.
Low snow cover is an advantage for predators, who can move around more easily. A recent study has shown that snowshoe hare mortality has increased due to the high predation rate by coyotes, particularly when snow depth is low.
Some species change colour, coat or plumage to blend in with their environment. This natural camouflage is less and less effective in the context of climate change, as reduced snow cover creates a seasonal mismatch between coat colour and the colour of the landscape. The moults of these animals are no longer synchronized with the arrival and melting of the snow, as they depend on photoperiod and ambient heat as much as the presence of snow.
Impacts on 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.
Last update of the page : February 2026.
