Ski resorts blame storm warnings for empty slopes after Easter storm fizzles

Ski resort operators in southern Norway have criticised meteorologists and media coverage of Easter storm “Dave,” claiming exaggerated warnings led to a dramatic drop in visitors despite calm conditions, Dagbladet reports.

Lasse Liestøl, manager of Bortelid Ski Centre near Kristiansand, described visitor numbers on Easter Monday as “catastrophic,” with just 21 guests compared to an expected 500 on a typical first day of the Easter holiday. “We had brilliant conditions—some morning snow, then windstill and clear—but after all the hysterical warnings, people stayed away,” he told the newspaper.

Meteorologists had issued red, orange, and yellow alerts ahead of the storm, urging residents in Agder county to stay indoors. While coastal areas experienced strong winds—toppling trampolines, uprooting trees, and disrupting transport—Liestøl argued the warnings were overblown. “We live in Norway. It’s winter. People need to take weather as it comes,” he said, noting his resort is accustomed to harsh conditions.

Ann-Torill Briksdal, CEO of Hovden Alpin Resort further inland, echoed the frustration. “We’ve got perfect powder here, but cabin guests were told to go home yesterday. It’s a shame,” she told regional newspaper Fædrelandsvennen.

Defending the forecasts, duty meteorologist Julie Solsvik Vågane acknowledged the low-pressure system tracked slightly south of predictions but stood by the warnings. “We aim to protect lives and property. Better to warn once too often than once too little,” she said, explaining that small shifts in a storm’s path can lead to major local differences. “We can’t pinpoint every single house.”

Not all residents were disappointed by the storm’s weaker-than-expected impact. Elisabeth, a resident of Karmøy, told Dagbladet she had prepared for severe weather—only to find the conditions milder than feared.