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Snow Today has expanded spatial coverage from the western US and New Zealand to now include Alaska and four Canadian provinces: Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Alberta. Snow-covered area in March averaged across the western United States was 34 percent of average, at 209,000 square kilometers (81,000 square miles) of snow cover, ranking last in the 26-year satellite record. Snow water equivalent (SWE) decreased in all western states except Montana and Washington. 

Since its inception, the Arctic Report Card has relied upon NSIDC scientists as authors and/or editors nearly every year, and incorporated NSIDC data in every single issue.

Arctic sea ice has likely reached its maximum extent for the year, at 14.29 million square kilometers (5.52 million square miles) on March 15, according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The 2026 winter sea ice extent edged just below last year’s record of 14.31 million square kilometers (5.53 million square miles), statistically tying for the lowest maximum in the 48-year satellite record.

Antarctic sea ice has likely reached its minimum extent for the year, at 2.58 million square kilometers (996,000 square miles) on February 26, 2026, ranking sixteenth lowest in the 48-year satellite record.

Snow-covered area across the western United States was 38 percent of average for February, ranking last in the 26-year satellite record. The is the second month in a row to reach a record low. Snow water equivalent (SWE) at the beginning of February varied by state, with below average values throughout most of the region.

A snow drought has gripped the US West. January has set a record for lowest snow cover in 26 years of satellite monitoring. Although snow water equivalent (SWE) had some increases at almost all monitoring stations, many still finished the month with below-average SWE.