I keep an eye on the National Snow/Ice Data Center website from time to time and noticed this: both December and January had the lowest ever ice extent for those months.
Now I fully realize that “ever” is since satellite records began in 1979. But note that while some parts of the mid-latitudes (eastern USA and western Europe) have seen a rough winter, most of the Arctic has been unusually warm this winter, like the Western USA (for part of the winter at least). A great discussion related to it on the link here: Arctic Oscillation brings record low January extent. Is the AO totally overwhelming the La Nina effects this winter here in the Pacific Northwest? Something to discuss at least. Try to avoid the usual cliches please and keep it about the data.
Chief Meteorologist Mark Nelsen