Swiss Glaciers Hit 'Loss Day'—Snow Reserves Gone, Bare Ice Exposed for Peak Summer Melt

Swiss glaciers exhausted their seasonal snowpack on June 29, 2026, reaching "Glacier Loss Day." From this point onward, all meltwater erodes permanent ice rather than insulating snow. The timing amplifies risk: bare ice absorbs more solar radiation than snow, exposing it to July and August's hottest months. This structural shift follows a 3% volume loss in 2025 driven by light snowfall and heat waves—losses not recovered for decades under current climate projections.