Swiss glaciers lose 5.5% of ice volume in 2026
publishers 18articles 19first reported 30 Sep, 23:00 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 10 editions
Switzerland’s glaciers lost 5.5% of their ice volume during the hydrologic year ending September 30, the second-largest annual decline on record after 2022, according to the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland network, GLAMOS.
Nearly 20% of the country’s total glacier volume has disappeared since 2021. Average glacier thickness fell by 2.5 to 4 metres in 2026, while some glacier tongues lost as much as 10 metres. Several smaller glaciers vanished completely, including Bella Tola in Valais and Griessfirn in Glarus. The Rhône, Aletsch and Clariden glaciers recorded their greatest melt on record.
Researchers attributed the losses to exceptionally low winter snowfall followed by hot, dry weather from May through September. The 2025-26 winter was among Switzerland’s 10 least snowy since measurements began. During the summer, the freezing point rose above 4,000 metres on 76 days, more than twice the average and a national record. By September, protective snow cover had disappeared even at elevations of 3,500 metres.
GLAMOS chief Matthias Huss attributed the rapid melting to human-caused climate change and said current conditions were incompatible with the long-term survival of Alpine glaciers.
From July through September, glacier melt released about 2.2 trillion litres of water, temporarily easing shortages. Researchers said that contribution will diminish as Switzerland’s glacier area continues to shrink.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 14 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 18
- Source articles
- 19
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 14 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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