Sea ice in the Suur Strait, Estonia

Estonia is facing one of the coldest winters in recent decades, with freezing temperatures affecting the country since the beginning of February 2026. Prolonged freezing conditions have led to the formation of extensive sea ice, disrupting transport connections and isolating several small islands.

These conditions are visible in this image, acquired on 17 February 2026 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites. The image shows the navigation channel linking the town of Kuivastu, on Muhu Island, with the city of Virtsu on the west coast of mainland Estonia. The narrow corridor carved across the frozen Suur Strait marking the shipping lane, and a ship sailing across are clearly visible in the image.

Copernicus satellite data enable authorities to monitor sea ice conditions, supporting safe transport planning and environmental oversight in Baltic coastal zones.