Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus

Click the name of each community below to view more frequently updated and detailed information from the National Weather Service.

Synopsis: A warmer and drier pattern starts to settle into the area as high pressure builds in. There will be a slight chance for showers Monday afternoon and into the end of next week, but any showers that take place will be light and scattered in nature. Overall, winds remain relatively light throughout the period, with the highest winds expected to take place Sunday night through Wednesday morning. Temperatures will gradually increase through the period, as a slight warming trend brings temperatures up into the low to mid 50s early next week.

Near St. Lawrence Island

This area has ended for the 2025 season.

Nome

This area has ended for the 2025 season.

Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area

This area has ended for the 2025 season.

Wales to Shishmaref

The only remaining sea ice is close pack ice located in southern Lopp Lagoon, and also open pack ice consisting of small to big floes offshore Shishmaref (to the northwest).

Diomede

This area has ended for the 2025 season.

Forecast Discussion

Ice Forecast

The remaining sea ice from Wales to Shishmaref is expected to melt completely by next Thursday (July 3), if not sooner.

Wind Synopsis

Shishmaref area:

Winds start off the period (June 27) out of the northeast around 5 to 10 kts (6–12 mph) before decreasing and shifting towards the west around 5 kts (6 mph) Saturday morning. These west winds persist through Sunday afternoon before strengthening and shifting towards the southwest between 10 to 15 kts (12–17 mph) Sunday night. Winds become light and variable around 6 kts (7 mph) by Wednesday morning. Winds finish off the period out of the northwest around 10 kts (12 mph) through Friday (July 4).

Temperature Trend

Shishmaref area:

Daytime temperatures will start off in the upper 40s and increase towards the low to mid 50s by Monday. Nighttime temperatures will start off in the upper 30s and increase towards the low to mid 40s beginning Monday as well. Overall, daily high and low temperatures are expected to be on an upward trend starting at the beginning of next week (Monday 6/30).

Daily Weather, Wind, and Temperature Updates

The National Weather Service provides twice-daily, text only updates on the weather, wind, and temperature conditions in specific geographical zones. An interactive weather map for access to other Alaskan zones can be found here: http://weather.gov/anchorage/ice

Higher resolution satellite images and wind maps (wind updated daily) can be viewed here: http://www.weather.gov/afg/SIWO_overview

The Alaska Ocean Observing System shares a variety of weather and sea ice related resources in their Bering Sea Portal at https://bering-sea.portal.aoos.org/.

NWS Sea Ice Forecast Maps

Marine forecast for the West Coast and Arctic Coast

Remote Sensing Images

Observations & Comments

Observations of Sea Ice Development

Observations from Shishmaref

Wednesday, 25 June 2025 – Christopher Ningeulook

There’s still ice within reach for any hunters willing to endure Northwest winds until Saturday. No rain but fog in the forecast. Hunters have been successful in both walrus and bearded seals over the last few days. Although many still are in need of catching enough marine mammals to store for the winter. The last of the ice is sparatic along the coast but is mainly around cape espenburg and kotzebue sound.

*Huntable Ice for our community mainly between cape espenburg and cape kruzenstern but stretches further north

Images courtesy of Christopher Ningeulook.

Ice edge is north of light house about 55 east of Shishmaref (still well within reach). Satellite imagery courtesy of Christopher Ningeulook.

Friday, 75 June 2025 – Curtis Nayokpuk

Spring subsistence hunting wrapped up for the season. Remaining ice melting and with constant poor spring weather with wind, fog, drizzle and rain hampering hunters resulted in less than average for Bearded Seals. Combined with packed ice and limited access to hunt inside ice where sea mammals are, most drying racks (spring camps) show bare or empty.

Photos courtesy of Curtis Nayokpuk.

Observations from Diomede

Wednesday, 25 June 2025 – Odge Ahkinga

Few days ago last sea ice near Diomede east 7 miles hunting is done now waiting for murre eggs been a cold spring.

Weather and sea ice conditions in Diomede. Photo courtesy of Odge Ahkinga.

Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 24 June – 2 June 2025

The images below show animations of the movement of ice predicted by the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). Snapshots from the forecast show ice coverage from 0% (black) to 100% (white) and arrows show the relative speed and direction of the ice. A light boundary is drawn at 15% predicted ice cover to highlight the ice edge, but ice may be predicted to extend beyond it. Some bays, lagoons, and areas very close to shore are not covered by the model. (Image produced by the Alaska Ocean Observing System / Axiom Data Science).

These animations show the predicted movement of ice predicted by the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). Snapshots from the forecast show ice coverage from 0% (black) to 100% (white) and arrows show the relative speed and direction of the ice. A light boundary is drawn at 15% predicted ice cover to highlight the ice edge, but ice may be predicted to extend beyond it. Some bays, lagoons, and areas very close to shore are not covered by the model. (Image produced by the Alaska Ocean Observing System / Axiom Data Science)