[dr_lew]

Here's a Terra/MODIS view from 01/04/2014 23:10 UTC showing the Bering Sea under broken cloud cover. At top center you can see a snow covered St. Matthew's Island in ice free seas, and you can see new ice forming to the north in the form of snaky tendrils.

Circa 2008 this new ice was forming around St. Matthew's Island around Christmas. So all I'm saying is, don't go off half cocked!

[TigersEye]

If you look at one isolate area of the Arctic you might get whatever variation you're looking for. Better to look at the entire polar region if you want to compare similar dates in two different years.

[Elsie]

that pix sure convinced ME!