Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2026 Minimum, Tying for 10th-Lowest on Record

Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on September 12, 2026, covering an estimated 4.6 million square kilometers (1.78 million square miles). This ties with several past years for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Satellite records continue to show that Arctic sea ice covers less of the ocean at both its annual maximum and minimum compared to a few decades ago.