Unseasonably warm weather has forced several Slovenian ski slopes to close due to a lack of snow. Not only is there no snowfall, but the temperatures are too high to make artificial snow. The resorts that remain open struggle to maintain skiing conditions.

"The warm winter, which makes it impossible to make artificial snow and the high temperatures that have eaten up the snow that the ski resorts made before the holidays, have led to the closure of some ski resorts," Manuela Božič Badalič, the head of the Slovenian Ski Lift Operators' Association, told the STA.

The resorts that remain open are struggling with 20 centimetres of snow. The only exception is Kanin, Slovenia's highest ski resort, which has one metre of snow. "This is not much for Kanin, but skiing is still possible," said Božič Badalič, director of the company operating the resort.

Low-altitude resorts Cerkno, Soriška Planina, Stari Vrh and Gače are now closed.

Other resorts such as Kranjska Gora, Krvavec and Vogel in the north struggle to keep their slopes white, including by moving snow from other areas to the ski slopes.

At Krvavec, the snow blanket is currently just 30 centimetres thick and continues to shrink because of high temperatures and humidity, so only five of the 13 ski lifts operated and six of the 26 slopes were open on 6 January.

"Even the best artificial snow system cannot make snow when it is 10 degrees Celsius and 80% humidity," Božič Badalič said.

Pohorje and Rogla in the north-east also operate at a much lower capacity than usual. What is more, the Pohorje bike park is open already. Last year it did not open until mid-April.

The lack of snow has already led to hotel booking cancellations at Pohorje. Meanwhile, the accommodation facilities at Rogla and the Terme Zreče spa are fully booked. The tourism company Unitur says they have not had any cancellations.

Kranjska Gora is hosting the women's Alpine Ski World Cup circuit this weekend for the Golden Fox Cup, an event traditionally held in Maribor. This is the fourth time in a row the event has been relocated due to a lack of snow.

Vogel, the resort above Lake Bohninj, depends entirely on natural snow. It currently has only 30 centimetres but is forecast to receive some more at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the weather forecast for most other ski resorts inspires no optimism. Resorts in the neighbouring countries face similar problems and Božič Badalič says it is a question which slopes in the country will be open for the coming school holidays.