ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – According to Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, or GLAMOS, Switzerland’s glaciers saw a decrease of 5.5% in ice volume during 2026, marking the country’s second-largest annual percentage decline ever documented. The reduction followed a winter with minimal snowfall and a summer marked by repeated heatwaves, which contributed to the extensive melt. The Swiss Academy of Sciences noted that nearly 20% of the nation’s glacier volume has disappeared over the past five years.
The winter season of 2025 to 2026 was among Switzerland’s ten least snowy winters since systematic data collection began. From May to September, persistent hot and dry conditions increased stress on exposed glacier surfaces. The freezing level surpassed 4,000 metres on 76 days, more than double the typical number for the warm season. By September, scientists observed no remaining snow at elevations around 3,500 metres in the monitored regions.
During the latest monitoring period, average glacier thickness diminished by approximately 2.5 to 4 metres. Some glacier tongues experienced losses of as much as 10 metres of ice. Notably, major glaciers such as Allalin, Clariden, Great Aletsch, and Rhône recorded their most significant melt since measurements commenced. Only in 2022 did Switzerland record a larger percentage loss in its long-term glacier record. The extent of retreat impacted both high-altitude ice and lower glacier sections across the Alps.
Retreat of smaller glaciers signals deepening Alpine ice loss
Several smaller glaciers, including Bella Tola in Valais and Griessfirn in Glarus, vanished entirely during 2026. Their disappearance contributed to a broader pattern of ongoing ice loss across Switzerland’s alpine zones. National measurements indicate that glacier volume has declined by nearly 20% since 2021. These recent reductions followed years of weak snowfall and intense summer melting. Researchers observed widespread thinning across both large glaciers and smaller ice bodies, emphasizing the persistent retreat.
The melting glaciers released approximately 2.2 trillion litres of water from July to September. This volume exceeded four times the annual drinking-water needs of Swiss households. The meltwater flowed into Alpine rivers and water systems during a period of widespread summer dryness. The figures reveal the enormous amount of stored ice that transitioned into Switzerland’s hydrological cycle within just three months. Elevated summer temperatures hastened the seasonal ice loss at many monitored sites.
2026’s snow conditions differentiate it from the record melt year of 2022
While the melt in 2026 was significant, it did not surpass the record set in 2022, when conditions were even more extreme. One factor distinguishing 2026 was the snow cover at the beginning of summer; many glaciers entered the melt season with slightly more snow than in 2022. Additionally, fewer Saharan dust particles settled on the snow during 2026. Cleaner snow reflects more sunlight, reducing melt, whereas darker dust-laden snow absorbs more solar energy and accelerates melting.
Nevertheless, Switzerland experienced exceptional glacier loss across both high elevations and lower tongues in 2026. Field surveys, snow measurements, and mass-balance observations documented changes through late September. The comprehensive data demonstrated extensive ice loss, the disappearance of smaller glaciers, and significant reductions in glacier thickness across the country. These findings place 2026 among the most severe years in Switzerland’s glacier measurement history. The recent data underscores the sharp contraction of the glacier system in recent years.