Mid September we can see the long predicted collapse of Arctic ice is postponed for yet another year. The graph shows MASIE reporting ice extents above 4.5M km2 for the last two weeks. A dip on day 252 to 4.43M km2 will likely be the daily minimum for the year. The graph also shows that 2018 is presently close to the 11 year average ice extent, 233k km2 more than 2016, 266k km2 more than 2007, and 1M km2 (a full Wadham!) more than the record setting 2012.

Update: Full September Results at Try to Remember: There’s Ice in September

Interestingly, in September NOAA’s offcially referenced Sea Ice Index (SII) is showing more ice than MASIE, by about 200k km2. That means the SII September monthly result will continue the plateau in Arctic ice since 2007.

As reported previously, the Northwest Passage through Nunavut was closed this year due to excessive and thick multiyear ice blocking the way. The chart below shows the conditions as of yesterday.



It won’t get any better than this for yachts attempting the passage west, since more than 3/10 (green) ice conditions blocks their progress. A post at the Northwest Passage blog S/V CRYSTAL Escape from Prince Regent Inlet explains how the passage is closing.

Breaking through the ice corridor, already close to the shore, we suddenly saw something unusual. Static ice so far began to flow very rapidly towards the shore! In this way he closed the road ahead of us and – which is much worse – cut off our retreat. We turned back and rushed to escape. It was the only option.

We drove the gas to the top, and the free water in front of the bow disappeared in her eyes . Giant ice floes moved towards the shore like in a river stream. We jumped out of some of the channels with maybe a meter of side wall, and the path behind us disappeared after a few dozen seconds.

After about thirty minutes of such a crazy slalom we got to the water so slow that the danger of being closed and pressed to the shore was averted . That was good news for us. The bad news was that this time we were unable to get out of Prince Regent Inlet. It was waiting for the next chance . (note: the log is translated from Polish)

Bottom line: They succeeded to get out and are now docked on Greenland coast.