Swiss glaciers are disappearing at a shocking rate. In 2025 alone, they lost nearly three percent of their volume. Scientists warn the melting is speeding up and creating new dangers.
A snow-poor winter and extreme summer heat fueled the massive loss. By early July, snow reserves had already melted away. This exposed bare ice to the sun and caused rapid shrinking.
For example, glaciers such as Claridenfirn and Silvretta lost more than two meters of thickness. Others, like Allalin and Findel, lost about one meter.
Since 2015, more than 1,000 small glaciers have already vanished. In fact, Switzerland’s glaciers have lost a quarter of their volume in just ten years. The year 2025 now joins 2022, 2023, and 2003 as one of the worst on record.
The shrinking ice is reshaping the Alps. Without glaciers to stabilize slopes, the mountains become fragile. As a result, avalanches, rockfalls, and landslides are becoming more common.
Matthias Huss, director of GLAMOS, explained the risks clearly. He said, “The continuous diminishing of glaciers also contributes to the destabilizing of mountains.” For example, in Lötschental valley, a rock and ice avalanche buried part of a village.
Swiss scientists are closely monitoring these changes. The Swiss Commission for Cryosphere Observation (SCC) coordinates glacier, snow, and permafrost networks nationwide. Their work provides critical data for both climate science and public safety.
This research also shows how quickly climate change is reshaping the landscape. The message is clear. Glacier loss is accelerating, and urgent action is needed to protect people and ecosystems.
Swiss Glaciers Vanish Fast: Over 1,000 Already Lost
