Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus
Synopsis: Spring-like conditions are going to continue through much of next week. High pressure remains over eastern Siberia, which is allowing for the island to be dry. This high pressure will slowly move east by Wednesday (4/8) bringing increasing chances for precipitation Wednesday (4/8) and Thursday (4/9). Winds are anticipated to be light through the week. Temperatures will be in the 20s throughout the week with increasing temperatures with the precipitation chances 4/8–4/9.
Near St. Lawrence Island
Sea ice between Gambell and Savoonga is possibly shorefast, but the lack of recent southerly wind forcing makes it difficult to tell. There are two polynyas forming along the south side of the island, one southeast of Powooiliak (Pugughileq) Camp through Silook Camp, and another between Kialegak Point and Kilaknak Lagoon. Some old ice has come southward through the Bering Strait north of the island, but the majority of ice is first-year medium and first-year thin.
Nome
This area has not yet begun for the 2026 season..
Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area
This area has not yet begun for the 2026 season..
Wales to Shishmaref
This area has not yet begun for the 2026 season.
Diomede
This area has not yet begun for the 2026 season.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
Expect tides and local currents to be the predominant mover of sea ice for the next week. Seasonally, we are already seeing the effects of longer daylight hours. New ice is struggling to form, and areas of open water have been showing up with the warm currents northwest of St. Lawrence Island. On Wednesday (4/8) expect sea ice to move to the south 5–10 nm/day.
Wind Synopsis
St. Lawrence Island:
Thursday (4/2) through Monday (4/6) will see winds out of the northeast with winds steadily decreasing through this period. The strongest winds will be Thursday (4/2) and Friday (4/3) with wind gusts up to 25 knots, by Saturday (4/4) these wind gusts will have decreased to 10 knots. Monday (4/6) will see winds shift easterly with wind gusts of 10 to 15 knots. These easterly winds will continue through Wednesday (4/8). Wednesday night (4/8) and into Thursday (4/9) the winds will be variable as a surface low moves across the Island.
Temperature Trend
St. Lawrence Island:
Daytime temperatures will be in the 20s through much of the week. Wednesday (4/8) will see temperatures rise into the low 30s with the arrival of precipitation. Nighttime temperatures will remain in the 10s above 0 through the whole forecast period.
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 Local Conditions
Observations from Sivuqaq / Gambell
Sunday, 29 March 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
Just got in from boating, see herd of walrus. Others boat see a whale and bear, got foggy. Went from noon till 9pm. Coming in more boats are at beach and making me ilea. Keniileq. two crews helping the other boats. 27° NNE 12mph, foggy need to clean my glass often.
Monday, 30 March 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
Just got in from boating, wind change to WSW, ice came to shore. Only 8 hrs of boating seen 3 bowheads, herd of walrus way inside ice and 4 bearded seal in water. 25° WSW 15mph. Went out at 9am-6pm. Hope to get closer next time.
Tuesday, 31 March 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
27° W 20mph, this morning the ice came in. On Sunday we seen some blows, we never see them again but the last one we got go after it, about 40 footer but the wind change to SW the ice was coming fast we had to hit home. The ice is still coming in. Hundreds of ducks feeding that way too. Way inside ice see herd of walrus mostly bulls.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
22° NNE 10mph. Waiting for more open water see walrus on ice. Whalers are getting ready.
Thursday, 2 April 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
Went out today 10am-9pm only see walrus in water, SW still close kind chilly today, 18° N 15mph.
Sea ice and weather conditions near Gambell, AK. Images courtesy of Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
Observations from Sivungaq / Savoonga
Monday, 30 March 2026 – Aqef Waghiyi
See 3 photos.
Tuesday, 31 March 2026 – Aqef Waghiyi
Yesterday we got 3 bulls. I had seen a herd of females but they were in the ice pack. Few captains brought their whaling gear down south. The herd we seen they didn’t go down we try listening to see if we can hear calves but ice was moving and couldn’t hear anything. We get 1 young bearded seal.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026 – Aqef Waghiyi
Open water over here got smaller then yesterday lite breeze from north at 8 knots.
Weather and sea ice conditions near Savoonga, AK. Photos courtesy of Aqef Waghiyi.
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 1 – 9 April 2026
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)