ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, glaciers across Switzerland saw a reduction of 5.5% in their ice volume, marking the country’s second-largest annual decline ever recorded. The shrinkage followed a winter with minimal snowfall and a summer characterized by multiple intense heatwaves. Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, known as GLAMOS, assessed the losses throughout the Swiss Alps during the 2026 measurement period. The Swiss Academy of Sciences reported that nearly 20% of the nation’s glacier volume has vanished over the past five years.
The winter months of 2025 to 2026 ranked among the ten least snowy since systematic records began. Persistently hot and dry conditions then extended from May to September, further exposing glacier surfaces to melting. The freezing level surpassed 4,000 metres on 76 days—more than double the average for the warm season. By September, researchers observed that no snow remained at elevations around 3,500 metres within monitored zones.
During the recent monitoring period, average glacier thickness decreased by approximately 2.5 to 4 metres. Some glacier tongues experienced ice loss of up to 10 metres. Major glaciers such as Allalin, Clariden, Great Aletsch, and Rhône recorded their highest melt rates since measurements began. Only 2022 saw a larger percentage loss in Switzerland’s long-term glacier record. This extensive retreat impacted both high-altitude ice and lower glacier sections across the Alps.
The retreat of smaller glaciers accelerates as Alpine ice diminishes
During the 2026 season, several smaller glaciers completely disappeared, including Bella Tola in Valais and Griessfirn in Glarus. Their vanishing points to a broader trend of ongoing ice depletion across Switzerland’s alpine regions. Data indicates that glacier volume has decreased by nearly 20% since 2021. The recent losses followed successive years of limited snowfall and intense summer melting. Scientists documented widespread thinning across both large glaciers and smaller ice bodies.
Between July and September, glacier melt released roughly 2.2 trillion litres of water. This volume exceeded four times the annual drinking-water needs of Swiss households. The meltwater flowed into alpine rivers and water systems amid a period of widespread summer drought. The figures highlight the vast amount of ice that transitioned into Switzerland’s water cycle within just three months. Elevated summer temperatures further hastened seasonal ice loss across many monitored sites.
Differences in snow cover distinguish 2026 from the record melt year of 2022
While 2026’s ice loss did not surpass the record set in 2022—when conditions were even more severe—there are notable differences. One key factor was the initial snow cover at the start of summer, with many glaciers entering the melt season with slightly more snow than in 2022. Additionally, during 2026, less Saharan dust settled on the snow, resulting in cleaner surfaces that reflect more sunlight. Conversely, dust-covered surfaces absorb more solar energy, accelerating melting.
Despite these variations, Switzerland recorded significant glacier loss across both high elevations and lower tongues in 2026. Field surveys, snow measurements, and mass-balance data documented widespread changes through the end of September. The findings revealed extensive ice reduction, the disappearance of smaller glaciers, and notable decreases in thickness across the country. These results place 2026 among the most severe years in Switzerland’s glacier measurement history, adding to the rapid contraction of the glacier system in recent years.