Antarctic Sea Ice Reached Its Third-Lowest Winter Peak in 2026

Sea ice around Antarctica reached its seasonal maximum on September 14, 2026, NASA Earth Observatory reported on October 12. NASA and the US National Snow and Ice Data Center estimate the extent at about 17.59 million square kilometers. That makes it the third-lowest winter maximum since satellite observations began in late 1978.

This is sea ice, frozen ocean water, rather than the ice sheet resting on the Antarctic continent. “Extent” counts ocean areas with at least 15% ice concentration. It is not a measurement of ice volume and cannot by itself tell us how much sea level will change. In the Southern Hemisphere, sea ice usually peaks around September and reaches a minimum around February.

NASA notes that after several high years in 2012–2014, Antarctic sea ice has more often remained below its previous normal range. Scientists are still assessing the balance between long-term change and natural variability. The new observation is an important indicator of the climate system, but one season is not a precise forecast for weather in any particular country.

Source

• Official release