Snow cover over Himalayas crashes to record low, 28 percent below normal: Report

Doha, Qatar: Snow cover across Hindu Kush Himalaya has fallen to a record low for the fourth consecutive year, signalling a collapse of seasonal snow reserves across the world's highest mountain range. 

According to the Snow Update Report 2026, released recently by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the decline poses a threat to water security for nearly two billion people who depend on the 12 river basins originating in the region. 

The report also stated that 10 of these basins have below-normal snow persistence. "The Mekong, Tarim, and Tibetan Plateau have recorded their lowest levels in 24 years of monitoring," the report added. The report warned that low-snow years prevent groundwater and soil moisture from replenishing, raising the chances of future droughts, with every dry spell forecast to hit harder. 

It further added that only two basins recorded above-normal snow persistence - the Ganges at +16.3% and the Irrawaddy at +21.8%, offering limited local relief but insufficient to offset the regional crisis. In contrast, extreme deficits persist in the Mekong at -59.5%, the Tibetan Plateau at -47.4%, and the Salween at -41.8%.