Although our preferred measure of the state of the Arctic ice is volume rather than extent (because of the way ice melts: think ice cube vs. crushed ice) this is a well-written piece on the cryosphere.
From The Watchers, May 3:
Arctic winter sea ice remained at record-low levels in March 2026, with NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reporting a statistical tie with the 2025 minimum winter maximum and Japan’s NIPR/JAXA dataset reporting a new record low. Despite differences in measurement methods, both datasets place the 2026 maximum among the lowest observed since satellite monitoring began in 1979.
NASA and NSIDC said Arctic sea ice likely reached its winter maximum on March 15, at 14.29 million km² (5.52 million mi²), close to the 2025 maximum of 14.31 million km² (5.53 million mi²). The two years are considered statistically tied in the U.S. dataset.
Japan’s National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported a lower maximum of 13.76 million km² (5.31 million mi²) on March 13, based on finalized five-day averaged satellite data. Their dataset places 2026 slightly below 2025, marking a new record low winter extent.
The difference between the two measurements — about 0.53 million km² (204 600 mi²) — reflects differences in processing methods and averaging techniques rather than disagreement about overall conditions. Both datasets show that Arctic winter sea-ice extent remained exceptionally low during the 2026 maximum period.
NASA reported the 2026 maximum was about 1.3 million km² (501 900 mi²) below the 1981–2010 average, extending the long-term decline observed in Arctic sea ice since 1979....
....MUCH MORE
And from the Danish Meteorological Institute, volume and thickness:
Nota bene: thickness and volume continue building for over a month after extent peaks.
If interested the DMI has some narrative on the various measures:
The state of the sea ice is determined by its extent, thickness and volume
