Arctic sea ice ties for 10th-lowest September extent at 4.6 million km²
NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) estimate that Arctic sea ice reached its 2026 minimum on 12 September, covering 4.6 million km²—statistically tied with 2008, 2010 and 2025 for the 10th-lowest level in the satellite record. The US National Ice Center puts the minimum at 4.77 million km², using a different dataset and method.
Bottom line — NSIDC says every September minimum since 2007 has been lower than those recorded from 1979 to 2006.