Swiss glaciers lost more than 5% of their ice volume in 2026 — 5,5% according to scientists' estimates. This is the second-largest figure in the entire history of observations, after the record year of 2022.
The cause was a snow-poor winter and a series of intense heatwaves from May to September. According to GLAMOS and the Swiss Academy of Sciences, the average thickness of the glaciers decreased by 2,5–4 metres, and on the tongues of some, by up to 10 metres.
Several small glaciers have disappeared completely and irrevocably. Among them are Bella Tola in the canton of Valais and Griessfirn in the canton of Glarus. The largest — Aletsch and Rhône — showed record ice loss for themselves.
From May to September, the freezing level rose above 4000 metres for 76 days — twice the usual amount. Even at an altitude of 3500 metres, no snow remained by the end of summer.
Between July and September, the glaciers released about 2,2 trillion litres of meltwater — more than four times Switzerland's annual drinking water consumption.
Over five years, the total volume of ice in the Swiss Alps shrank by almost 20%. "We did not expect to see such enormous losses, especially in such a short time," noted GLAMOS head Matthias Huss.
How will accelerated melting affect water supply and tourism in the Alps in the coming years?
Scientists emphasise: under such conditions, Alpine glaciers cannot survive in the long term. Extreme melting years are becoming the norm.
