Hindu Kush Himalaya snowpack hits record low for fourth straight year, threatening water security for two billion
Summary
The Hindu Kush Himalaya recorded its lowest snowpack in 24 years in 2026, threatening water security for nearly two billion people across 12 major river basins due to significant reductions in seasonal snowmelt.
Key Points
- The Hindu Kush Himalaya snowpack fell 27.8% below average in 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year of below-normal snow levels.
- Ten of the 12 major river basins dependent on HKH snowmelt have below-normal snow persistence, with Mekong basin seeing the steepest deficit at minus 59.5%.
- Reduced snowmelt threatens water availability for drinking, irrigation, hydropower, and ecosystems for nearly two billion people downstream.
- ICIMOD urges immediate drought preparedness, real-time water management integration, infrastructure investment, and strengthened regional cooperation on water resources.
