Alaska Climate Research Center
Sea ice minimum tied for 10th lowest The Arctic Sea ice extent has passed its annual minimum and transitioned into a new growth season. The 2026 minimum extent was likely reached on September 12 with 4.60 million km² (NSIDC). This value is tied for 10th lowest with the 2008, 2010, and 2025 seasons in the
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 30, 2026 Read More »
Total Arctic Sea ice extent remains very low, extent in Alaskan waters near normal Total Arctic sea ice extent remains at very low levels. The sea ice extent decreased from 9.103 million km² on June 30 to 6.526 million km² by July 31. Current sea ice extent is near the level of 2024 and 2025
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: July 31, 2026 Read More »
Seasonal decline continues, extent remains near record low values Total Arctic sea ice extent has remained at or near record low levels throughout May. The sea ice extent decreased from 12.841 million km² to 11.439 million km² by May 31. From the start of the month until May 11, daily sea ice extent hovered at
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: June 1, 2026 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: May 1, 2026 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: March 1, 2026 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: October 9, 2025 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: October 2, 2025 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 25, 2025 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 18, 2025 Read More »
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
Arctic Sea Ice Extent: September 11, 2025 Read More »