If the ECMWF 00z op run is correct, then the sea ice in Ross Sea will be hammered by a 960-965 hpa cyclone in 48 hours. Most of the ice is about 0,5-0,7 m thick (see attached pic, courtesy Copernicus) there so the cyclone should have potential to do damage to the ice there.
One question of importance is how many km2 that area make up? Anyone who knows?
And does anyone know where I find the forecast that shows the evolution of the sea ice thickness around Antarctica?
NSIDC reports a drop of 150K today and we are now at 4,426 Mn km2. We are still lowest on record.