Swiss Glaciers 13% Below Seasonal Average
18th June 2025
Last modified on June 21st, 2025
At the end of last winter the glaciers in Switzerland were 13% below their 2010-2020 average size. The current hot weather is causing further melt.
Glacier Monitoring Switzerland, Glamos, measured snow depths at 21 glaciers and found densities ranging between 1 and 4 metres or between 0 and 52% below the reference value.
The extrapolation of these measurements to all 1,400 registered Swiss glaciers shows a “winter snow deficit” that is 13% below the 2010-2020 period, a recent report from Glamos said.
The measurements examine both the depth and density of the snow, providing useful data to evaluate the upcoming summer melting season.
“Overall, snow measurements on glaciers indicate another dry year with significant repercussions on melting in the coming summer,” the head of Glamos, Matthias Huss.
“Another difficult year for glaciers ahead.”
Mont Fort glacier, Verbier. Image © PlanetSKI
Snow cover is vital for glaciers as it allows them to recharge their mass, while protecting them from heat and sunlight in spring and summer.
This year’s measurements show strong regional differences, with a very low snow cover on glaciers located in northeastern Switzerland.
There were close to average conditions in the south and southwest due to large snowfall in mid-April.
Swiss glaciers melted as much in 2022 and 2023 as between 1960 and 1990, loosing 10% of their mass.
The current hot temperatures in Europe are harming the conditions for summer glacier skiing but a handful of resorts, including Zermatt in Switzerland, are open.
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