Arctic Sea Ice Extent
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: May 1, 2026
Lowest maximum extent in the satellite record Arctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent on March 15, 2026, at 14.278 million km². This is the lowest maximum extent in the satellite record and approximately 29,000 km² (0.20%) lower than the previous record low set on March 22, 2025. Given the small difference, 2025 and 2026 are effectively tied for the lowest annual maximum sea ice extent in the 47-year record. Sea ice extent increased from 14.149 million km² on March 1 to its seasonal maximum on March 15. The ice extent remained at or near record low levels throughout April as the seasonal decline began. Sea ice extent decreased from 13.991 million km² on April 1 to 12.979 million km² by April 30. During the last week of April, daily sea ice extent dropped to record low levels in a near tie with the same time of year in 2019 (Data source: nsidc.org). Notably, sea ice extent has been lowest in the satellite record on 28 days so far in 2026, with very low extents occurring mainly in January, the second half of March, and late April. Arctic Sea ice extent in 2026 (blue line) compared to last ...
Arctic Sea Ice Extent Archive
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: March 1, 2026
Arctic sea ice extent increased from 13.59 million km² on February 1 to 14.15 million km² on March 1, according to NSIDC data. This represents a 4.1% increase during February, slightly below the long-term February average growth rate of 4.3%. Ice growth slowed between February 20 and 27, when a temporary decrease in Arctic sea ice extent was observed. Expansion resumed on February 28 as the climatological mid-to-late March period for the annual maximum sea ice extent approaches. The 4.1% growth in February 2026 exceeded the 2.5% increase observed during February 2025, the year that ultimately recorded the lowest maximum Arctic sea ice extent in the 47-year satellite record. On February 1, Arctic sea ice extent ranked as the third lowest for that date in the satellite era, with only 2018 and 2025 having lower values. As of March 1, the extent of 14.15 million km² ranks as the second lowest in the satellite-era record for that date, with 2025 remaining the lowest. In 2025, the annual maximum Arctic sea ice extent reached a record-low 14.31 million km² on March 22. As of March 1, 2026, Arctic sea ice extent would need to increase by 0.16 million km² (159 thousand ...
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: October 9, 2025
October 9, 2025: The Arctic sea ice has experienced a smaller increase rate for this week of 7.32% (last week’s increase rate was 8.96%), from the level on 10/02/2025 of 5.291 M km2 to 5.709 M km2 for this week. The sea ice extent for 2025 to date remains in 9th place for the lowest sea ice extent for this day of the year as noted below when the lowest sea ice extent was at 4.626 M km2 on 10/09/2012. Ranking of lowest sea ice extent for the day of the post, values in M km2 : 2012 4.6262020 4.7782019 4.9772024 4.9822007 5.1182018 5.2372023 5.3982016 5.4292025 5.7092011 5.711 The negative sea ice anomaly this week was less than the anomaly of -0.91083 M km2 on 10/02/2025 to a lower negative anomaly of -1.0739 M km2 on 10/09/2025, and so more anomalously negative for this time of year.
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025: The Arctic sea ice has experienced a larger increase rate for this week of 8.96% (last week’s increase rate was 2.68%), from the level on 09/25/2025 of 4.817 M km2 to 5.291 M km2 for this week. The sea ice extent for 2025 to date has now risen one more spot to 9th place for the lowest sea ice extent for this day of the year as noted below when the lowest sea ice extent was at 4.138 M km2 on 10/02/2012. Ranking of lowest sea ice extent for the day of the post, values in M km2 : 2012 4.1382020 4.4792007 4.6582024 4.7632023 4.8572019 4.8812018 5.0382011 5.1802025 5.291 The negative sea ice anomaly this week was less than the anomaly of -0.91083 M km2 on 09/25/2025 to a lower negative anomaly of -0.88801 M km2 on 10/02/2025, and so more anomalously negative for this time of year.
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 25, 2025
September 25, 2025: The Arctic sea ice has experienced a larger increase rate for this week of 2.68% (last week’s increase rate was 0.36%), from the level on 09/18/2025 of 4.688 M km2 to 4.817 M km2 for this week. So, we are now definitely in the sea ice increase season. The sea ice extent for 2025 to date has now risen by two spots to 10th place for the lowest sea ice extent for this day of the year as noted below when the lowest sea ice extent was at 3.735 M km2 on 09/25/2012. Ranking of lowest sea ice extent for the day of the post, values in M km2 : 2012 3.7352020 4.2122007 4.2132023 4.4362019 4.4702024 4.5032008 4.7292011 4.7482018 4.7702025 4.817 The negative sea ice anomaly this week was greater than the anomaly of -0.78362 M km2 on 09/18/2025 to a higher negative anomaly of -0.91083 M km2 on 09/25/2025, and so more anomalously negative for this time of year.
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 18, 2025
September 18, 2025: Arctic sea ice has experienced another very small increase rate for this week of 0.36% (last week’s increase rate was 0.09%), from the level on 09/11/2025 of 4.671 M km2 to 4.688 M km2 for this week. So, it looks like we have probably reached that transition point to the sea ice increase season. The sea ice extent for 2025 to date has now dropped one more spot to 12th place for the lowest sea ice extent for this day of the year as noted below when the lowest sea ice extent was at 3.452 M km2 on 09/18/2012. Ranking of lowest sea ice extent for the day of the post, values in M km2 : 2012 3.4522020 3.9042007 4.1562019 4.1662023 4.2672024 4.3262016 4.4412008 4.5482011 4.5762015 4.5852010 4.6282025 4.688 The negative sea ice anomaly this week was greater than the anomaly of -0.74646 M km2 on 09/11/2025 to a higher negative anomaly of -0.78362 M km2 on 09/18/2025, and so more anomalously negative for this time of year.
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 11, 2025
September 11, 2025: (Eight days since the last post) the Arctic sea ice has experienced a very small increase rate for this week of 0.09% (last week’s decrease rate was 2.95%), from the level on 09/03/2025 of 4.667 M km2 to 4.671 M km2 for this week. The sea ice extent for 2025 to date has now dropped one spot to 11th place for the lowest sea ice extent for this day of the year as noted below when the lowest sea ice extent was at 3.416 M km2 on 09/11/2012. So, it looks like we are right on the precipice of the change in sea ice seasonality from the decrease season to the increase season; next week’s data should help us with that. Since last week, sea ice has been oscillating between loss and gain a total of four times, but the last three days have all been trending up. Ranking of lowest sea ice extent for the day of the post, values in M km2 : 2012 3.4162020 3.8492007 4.2152016 4.2382024 4.2502023 4.2582019 4.3192011 4.3462015 4.4712008 4.5772025 4.671 The negative sea ice anomaly this week was lower than the anomaly of -0.90148 M km2 on 09/03/2025 to a lesser negative anomaly of -0.74646 M ...