What is happening in the Arctic is now beyond words, so here are the pictures

In the depths of the northern winter, and with 24-hour darkness at the North Pole, an extraordinary climate warming event is happening. And for many scientists it is now beyond words. So here from Zack Labe (@ZLabe) are some images which tell the story of the recording-smashing warming and sea-ice melting occurring right now high in the Arctic.

Sea ice extent in the Bering Sea (Arctic) continues its decline. "Warm" and strong southerly winds have contributed to this anomalous retreat of ice into the Bering Strait. 2018 is the clear outlier in the satellite era (each thin line = 1979-2017, @NSIDC data) pic.twitter.com/kzEV6yEFmp

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 24, 2018

The extreme event continues to unfold in the high #Arctic today in response to a surge of moisture and "warmth"

2018 is well exceeding previous years (thin lines) for the month of February. 2018 is the red line. Average temperature is in white (https://t.co/kO5ufUWrKq) pic.twitter.com/cLeMxSxvWo

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 25, 2018

There is open water north of #Greenland where the thickest sea ice of the #Arctic used to be. It is not refreezing quickly because air temperatures are above zero confirmed by @dmidk's weather station #KapMorrisJesup. Wacky weather continues with scary strength and persistence. pic.twitter.com/YMnvCD8XvL

— Lars Kaleschke (@seaice_de) February 25, 2018

February? This is crazy. Retreat of sea ice in the Bering Sea continues - well below the previous record low in the satellite era. pic.twitter.com/9UoqZvaFr2

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 21, 2018

Check out this massive hurricane-force low pressure (944 hPa) southeast of Greenland today...

[#MODIS Terra, 250 m from @NASAEarthData at https://t.co/tdqa1WdqWs] pic.twitter.com/IyekQdkmB7

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 23, 2018

Cape Morris Jesup (#Greenland's northernmost observation station) is now reporting temperatures well above freezing today... +6.1°C at the latest observation! Crazy!

Station is provided by @dmidk at https://t.co/kedfPPAg9q. pic.twitter.com/wEcs4B61mo

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 24, 2018

The most intense surge of moisture/warmth (relative to average) for this event will be pushing over the North Pole tomorrow. Temperatures projected near 0°C. Meanwhile, brutal cold remains over Europe.

Graphics available from https://t.co/PsOBvTVbA2 pic.twitter.com/LK6rvpaow6

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 25, 2018

A look at the loss of thicker (usually older) #Arctic sea ice in Octobers from 1979-2016 (PIOMAS, ice < 1.5 meters masked black) pic.twitter.com/BtHCwVUdKk

— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) November 14, 2016