Arctic Winter Sea Ice Decline Resumes After Pause

New studies show that the Arctic winter sea ice slowdown seen in the early 2020s was temporary, with 2025 and 2026 winters posting record lows that restore a significant downward trend in winter ice extent. The 5.8% drop from 2024 to 2025 was the largest year-to-year decline on record, and researchers say the recent data indicate winter ice loss is continuing and may accelerate again in the next decade due to ongoing global warming, despite the earlier pause being brought to an end by natural oceanic variations.