ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Swiss glaciers saw a 5.5% decrease in their ice volume, marking the second-largest percentage decline ever recorded. This significant loss followed a winter characterized by unusually sparse snowfall and a summer dominated by extreme heat. Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, known as GLAMOS, tracked these changes throughout the Swiss Alps. The Swiss Academy of Sciences also issued a report on the national findings. Over the past five years, nearly 20% of Switzerland’s glacier volume has vanished.
The winter of 2025 to 2026 was among Switzerland’s ten least snowy winters since records began. Persistent hot and dry conditions continued from May through September, with the freezing level surpassing 4,000 metres on 76 days during the warm season. This figure more than doubled the average and set a Swiss record. By September, researchers observed no remaining snow at elevations around 3,500 metres, exposing glacier ice across high Alpine regions.
During the 2026 measurement period, average glacier thickness declined between 2.5 and 4 metres. Some glacier tongues experienced ice losses of up to 10 metres. Multiple major glaciers recorded their highest melt since measurements started, including the Allalin, Clariden, Great Aletsch, and Rhône glaciers. These losses positioned 2026 just behind 2022, which remains the most severe year for glacier melt in Switzerland’s measurement history.
Decline of Smaller Swiss Glaciers Accelerates as Ice Vanishes
During this monitoring cycle, several smaller glaciers in Switzerland entirely disappeared. Notable examples include Bella Tola in the canton of Valais and Griessfirn in Glarus. Their disappearance contributes to a longer-term trend of ice loss across the country’s Alpine regions. Data indicates a nearly 20% reduction in glacier volume since 2021. This cumulative decline coincides with repeated years of minimal snowfall and intense summer melting across much of the Swiss Alps.
The melting process also resulted in significant water release during the dry summer months. Between July and September, glaciers contributed approximately 2.2 trillion litres of water—more than four times the annual drinking-water needs of all Swiss households. This meltwater fed into Alpine rivers and other water systems amid widespread summer drought conditions. The figures highlight the rapid transfer of stored glacier ice into Switzerland’s water cycle within just three months of 2026.
Minimal Snowfall and Summer Heat Drive 2026 Glacier Melt
While the glacier melt in 2026 did not surpass the record set in 2022, the conditions leading to this year’s loss played a significant role. Many glaciers began the summer with marginally more snow than in 2022. Additionally, fewer Saharan dust particles settled on the snow this year. Cleaner snow reflects more sunlight, whereas dust-darkened surfaces absorb increased solar energy, potentially boosting melting when other factors are consistent.
Despite these variations, the 2026 data revealed extensive ice loss across both high elevations and lower glacier tongues. The season added yet another significant decline to Switzerland’s ongoing glacier record. Field surveys, snow assessments, and glacier mass-balance observations documented the widespread reduction of ice throughout the country through September’s end. The findings confirm extensive ice depletion, the disappearance of smaller glaciers, and substantial reductions in glacier thickness, ranking 2026 among the most severe melt years in Swiss history.