Tag Archives: NCEP

Facts About the Arctic in February 2026

Hudson Bay has fully frozen over during January. However, there is still open water north of Svalbard and in the North Water Polynya. It’s even possible to go swimming in the Nares Strait according to the latest AMSR2 concentration map from the Alfred Wegener Institute:

JAXA extent is currently 3rd lowest for the date, in a “statistical tie” with 2017:

Looking at the third dimension next, PIOMAS volume was second lowest for the date by a whisker at the end of January:

Here’s the associated sea ice thickness map:

Continue reading Facts About the Arctic in February 2026

Facts About the Arctic in January 2026

A Happy New Year to our loyal reader(s) from the shores of (the now frozen) Santa’s Summer Swimming Pool:

Note that for the hardy, swimming is still possible north of Svalbard, in parts of Hudson Bay and the North Water Polynya.

At the end of 2025 JAXA extent was 2nd lowest for the date, albeit in a “statistical tie” with 2024 and 2017:

NSIDC average extent for December is lowest in the satellite era by a considerable margin:

Continue reading Facts About the Arctic in January 2026