Arctic sea ice reaches 2026 annual minimum extent

Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on September 12, 2026, covering approximately 4.6 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles). Data from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder indicate this figure ties with the minimums recorded in 2008, 2010, and 2025, marking the 10th-lowest extent in the satellite record.

The last 20 years, from 2007 to 2026, have accounted for the 20 lowest annual minimums since continuous satellite measurements began in late 1978. While the ice extent has appeared to plateau in recent years, scientists note it remains low compared to the earlier parts of the record. Factors such as increased cloud cover have been cited as a reason for relatively stable September extents in the recent decade by preventing solar radiation from further accelerating the melt.

In contrast, Antarctic sea ice is currently approaching its annual maximum following a period of fluctuation in August, where a decline in ice was attributed to weather conditions compacting thin ice near its outer edge.