Colorado Glaciers Thin Dramatically Amid Record Heat

Record-low snowpack followed by record summer heat caused Colorado’s prominent glaciers to thin sharply in 2026, reflecting a broader pattern of climate-driven ice loss. Andrews Glacier lost more than 12 feet, Arapaho nearly 10 feet, and Isabelle about 6.5 feet—roughly twice the thinning rate of the previous five years—while St. Mary’s perennial snowfield melted completely by September. Researchers say reduced snowfall and rising temperatures threaten water supplies, increase hazards in mountain areas, and contribute to sea-level rise; more than 7 trillion tons of ice have been lost worldwide since 2000.