Climate · Thursday, September 24, 2026
Arctic sea ice hits 2026 minimum, tying 10th-lowest in satellite record
The File desk · Sep 24, 2026, 10:21 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed (NASA, Sept. 23, 2026). The minimum date in the report is Sept. 12, 2026.
NASA reported on Sept. 23, 2026, that Arctic sea ice reached its 2026 minimum on Sept. 12. The ice covered an estimated 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers), tying 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record. The last 20 years, 2007 through 2026, hold the 20 lowest minima.
NASA reported on Sept. 23, 2026, that Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum on Sept. 12.
The ice covered an estimated 1.78 million square miles, or 4.6 million square kilometers.
That extent ties 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record, which begins in the late 1970s.
The last 20 years, 2007 through 2026, hold the 20 lowest minima.
The same report says Antarctic ice is nearing its annual maximum after an unusual mid-season dip. The Antarctic 2026 maximum is still pending.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Antarctic 2026 maximum, still pending in the report.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Arctic sea ice 2026 minimum
NASA · September 23, 2026
Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on Sept. 12… The ice covered an estimated 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers), tying 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record.
https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/climate-science/sea-ice/arctic-sea-ice-2026-min/