Olympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves.
Parents in Fort Bend ISD could learn more about potential school closures during district meetingFinland's Elian Lehto speeds down the course of an alpine ski men's downhill portion of a team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics , in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb.
9, 2026. Dan Wilton, of Vancouver, Canada, left walks with his friends without jackets as temperatures rise in the host city, during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Karli Poliziani, center right, poses for a photo with her father, Len, as the temperature rose in the host city, during the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Finland's Elian Lehto speeds down the course of an alpine ski men's downhill portion of a team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. – CORTINA D'Olympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves. Those coats were unzipped Sunday and gloves pocketed as snow melted from rooftops — signs of a warming world. “I definitely thought we’d be wearing all the layers,” said Jay Tucker, who came from Virginia to cheer on Team USA and bought hand warmers and heated socks in preparation. “I don’t even have gloves on.”2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina truly had a wintry feel, as the town was blanketed in heavy snow. The temperature reached about 40 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday afternoon. It felt hotter in the sun. This type of February “warmth” for Cortina is made at least three times more likely due to climate change, Winkley said. In the 70 years since Cortina first held the Winter Games, February temperatures there have climbed 6.4 degrees Fahrenheit , he added.For the Milan Cortina Games, there's an added layer of complexity. It’s the most spread-out Winter Games in history, so Olympic venues are in localities with very different weather conditions. Bormio and Livigno, for example, are less than an hour apart by car, but they are separated by a high mountain pass that can divide the two places climatically. The organizing committee is working closely with four regional and provincial public weather agencies. It has positioned weather sensors at strategic points for the competitions, including close to the ski jumping ramps, along the Alpine skiing tracks and at the biathlon shooting range. Where automatic stations cannot collect everything of interest, the committee has observers — “scientists of the snow”— from the agencies ready to collect data, according to Matteo Pasotti, a weather specialist for the organizing committee. The hope? Clear skies, light winds and low temperatures on race days to ensure good visibility and preserve the snow layer. The reality: “It’s actually pretty warm out. We expected it to be a lot colder,” said Karli Poliziani, an American who lives in Milan. Poliziani was in Cortina with her father, who considered going out Sunday in just a sweatshirt.Weather plays a critical role in the smooth running and safety of winter sports competitions, according to Filippo Bazzanella, head of sport services and planning for the organizing committee. High temperatures can impact the snow layer on Alpine skiing courses and visibility is essential. Humidity and high temperatures can affect the quality of the ice at indoor arenas and sliding centers, too. Visibility and wind are the two factors most likely to cause changes to the competition schedule, Bazzanella added. Wind can be a safety issue or a fairness one, such as in the biathlon where slight variations can disrupt the athletes' precise shooting. American alpine skier Jackie Wiles said many races this year have been challenging because of the weather. “I feel like we’re pretty good about keeping our heads in the game because a lot of people are going to get taken out by that immediately,” she said at a team press conference last week. “Having that mindset of: it’s going to be what it’s going to be, and we still have to go out there and fight like hell regardless.” The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’sCopyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Houston Police Remove Occupant from Crashed Vehicle on Travis StreetUPDATE: After Houston woman hit with $134K solar bill, company agrees to remove panels at no costSinkhole shuts down all eastbound mainlanes on East Freeway
Matteo Pasotti Jay Tucker Filippo Bazzanella Environment Entertainment Olympics Karli Poliziani Climate
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Olympic photo highlights from Day 1 of the Milan Cortina Winter Games___
Read more »
Team USA women’s hockey powers past Finland at Milan Cortina Games, ties Olympic recordFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Winter Olympics TV schedule: Monday's listingsMonday's TV and streaming listings for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Read more »
Olympic town warms up as climate change puts Winter Games on thin iceOlympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves.
Read more »
Winter Olympics TV schedule: Tuesday’s listingsTuesday's TV and streaming schedule and listings for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Read more »
Olympic town warms up as climate change puts Winter Games on thin iceOlympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves.
Read more »