The area to the north of Ellesmere Island and Greenland contains the
Arctic's thickest ice and it is predicted to be the last to lose its
perennial ice, thus providing an important refuge for ice-dependent
species. There is however evidence that this Last Ice Area is, like the
entire Arctic, undergoing rapid changes that may reduce its suitability
as a refuge. During May 2020, a polynya developed to the north of
Ellesmere Island in a region where there are no reports of a previous
development during May. We use a variety of remotely sensed data as well
as atmospheric models to document the evolution and the dynamics
responsible for the polynya. In particular, we argue that anomalously
strong divergent winds associated with an intense and long-lived Arctic
anti-cyclone contributed to the development of the polynya as well as a
similar previously unreported event in May 2004.