Devastating year for Switzerland's glaciers after extreme heat and low snow
Switzerland's glaciers lost more than 5% of their ice volume in 2026. Although melt rates did not quite reach the record levels of 2022, glacier thickness decreased by an average of 2.5 to 4 meters (8 to 13 feet) this year, and some glacier tongues lost up to 10 meters (33 feet) of ice. The research is published in the journal GLAMOS—Glacier Monitoring Switzerland.
Switzerland's glaciers experienced a devastating year in 2026 due to extreme heat and a lack of snow, according to research published in the GLAMOS—Glacier Monitoring Switzerland journal. The Rhône, Aletsch, and Clariden glaciers, among others, suffered their greatest melt on record. In addition, several smaller glaciers, such as Bella Tola and Griessfirn, disappeared permanently.
Nearly 20% of Switzerland's glacier volume has vanished in the past five years. The winter of 2025–2026 was one of the 10 least snowy in the country since records began. Hot, dry conditions prevailed between May and September 2026, causing excessive glacial melt even at high elevations. For 76 days, the freezing level soared above 4,000 meters (13,100 feet), a Swiss record.
By September, no snow remained at elevations below 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). Swiss glaciers released around 2,200 billion liters (581 billion gallons) of water during the summer months, more than four times the annual household drinking-water consumption. While this meltwater temporarily alleviated summer water shortages, it is dwindling as glaciers shrink irreversibly.
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