Cervinia summer skiing halted as warm spell hits high Alps

One of Europe's most celebrated summer skiing destinations, the Zermatt Cervinia area on the Italian-Swiss border, has suspended operations as unseasonably warm weather leaves the high-altitude slopes without sufficient snow, according to the ski industry publication the-ski-guru.com.

The closure affects a resort that normally draws skiers through the summer months to the glacier runs above the Aosta Valley town of Cervinia and the Swiss village of Zermatt. The site reported that the famous summer skiing venue is "waiting for a change in the weather" before lifts can turn again.

The development comes as a broader heatwave grips much of Italy, with nearly all major cities placed under the highest heat alert from Monday, according to the BBC and The Local Italy.