When all Arctic sea ice is summed up, 2019 experienced the second-lowest mean sea-ice extent of all previous august months since 1979, in between august 2012 (lowest) and 2007 (now third lowest).
![](/sites/cryo.met.no/files/osisaf_nh_iceextent_monthly-08.gif)
Heavy ice conditions in Svalbard
Locally around Svalbard, the ice conditions were more unusal for this time of the year: more sea-ice is observed to the North-East and East of the archipelago, and caused troubles for ship traffic (in Norwegian).
![](/sites/cryo.met.no/files/ice_conc_ssmis_nh_ease2-250_201909011200_sva.png)
North-East and East of the Svalbard archipelago.
Readers of cryo.met.no can also access daily SAR imagery where sea-ice around Svalbard is apparent:
![](/sites/cryo.met.no/files/SAR-mosaic-20190904.png)