Lowest Arctic sea ice extent is in mid September, but today, 3 September, the 2018 pattern seem established. This year is the eighth lowest 2 Sep SIE since we have been satellite monitoring
(1979). Although the 2012 record is still secure, note how all the lows seem to be clustered in the last decade of satellite measurements.

https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2223.0;attach=107615;image

Early in October, the average SIE for all Septembers will be posted here. The highest average September SIEs of the
satellite era were approximately 8 million km^2.

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2017/10/monthly_ice_09_NH_v2.1-350×270.png