2026 Arctic Sea Ice Maximum Among Lowest on Record

National Snow and Ice Data Center, March 2026

As of March 2026, satellite observations indicate that this year’s Arctic sea ice maximum extent is on track to place lowest on record, following very closely with the record-breaking low set in 2025. Sea ice grows throughout the winter as temperatures freeze before reaching its annual maximum in March or early April. Today, Arctic winter sea ice extent is currently well below the long-term median and outside much of the historical range, continuing an ongoing trend of reduced sea ice coverage. Danish Meteorological Institute models find that present-day Arctic sea ice is less than two meters thick in most regions, aside from thicker areas along the northern coast of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Total Arctic sea ice volume in March 2026 is currently the lowest on record, even lower than last year and about 15% lower than mid-March 2024.

NSIDC Tracking Tool | DMI Arctic Sea Ice Thickness | Summary by Climate Specialists at University of Fairbanks, Alaska