Germany's Garmisch-Partenkirchen then versus now

STORY: Europe has seen its second-warmest year on record in 2022 with unusually mild temperatures extending into 2023.

The traditional downhill slalom due to take place on January 28-29 would have been celebrating its 70th anniversary this year but unless a winter miracle brings about a run of -9 night temperatures it won't be possible.

Locals were still making the most of what snow was available to them but one ski fan said maybe it was time to find another sport.

Hundreds of sites have seen temperature records smashed from Switzerland to Poland to Hungary, which registered its warmest Christmas Eve in Budapest and saw temperatures climb to 18.9 degrees Celsius (66.02°F) on January 1.