Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus
Synopsis: As a strong Bering Sea low makes a northerly ascent along the West Coast of Alaska, relatively strong winds and cooler temperatures are brought over the area. This low is likely to bring scattered chances for snow through Thursday (4/30) afternoon for St. Lawrence Island. Chances for snow pick up for Wales through Shishmaref starting Thursday (4/30) as the low moves north, tapering off into Sunday (5/3). Precipitation is likely to remain in the form of snow, but a wintry mix may be possible as surface conditions linger around freezing. Stronger winds are likely to prevail from the east/southeast direction today, gradually changing to a west/southwesterly pattern as the low progresses north and a front moves over the region. This front, along with encroaching upper-level ridging, will generally cool high temperatures into the low 30s above and lows into the low to mid 20s above through the end of the forecast period.
Near St. Lawrence Island
First year medium to thick very close pack ice is being pushed against the north side of the island/shorefast ice along the northern coast. The shorefast ice looks intact and stable from the satellite imagery, however, the outer edges to the north of Lietnik and Camp Kulowiye appear as if they are decaying and getting closer to eroding into the surrounding pack ice. A large polynya extends to the west of Booshu Camp with an area of open to very open pack ice streaming off of the main pack.
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
Easterly winds are forcing some openings within the very close pack ice between Shishmaref and Espenberg. The shorefast ice looks mostly intact with no signs of decay except for an area roughly 15 miles northwest of Ikpek. The Alaska Coastal Current is beginning to exert its seasonal influence between Diomede and Wales (shoutout to the Indigenous Knowledge & Use of Bering Strait Region Ocean Currents map) as evidenced by an area of very open pack ice off of the shorefast ice approximately 17 to 20 miles west of Ikpek. The very close pack ice is flowing northward through the Strait despite the presence of northerly winds.
Diomede
This area has not yet begun for the 2026 season.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
Wales to Shishmaref:
Expect local tides and currents to continue to be the main driver of ice movement, which may be enhanced by southerly winds through the first week of May. The increase in warm currents may begin to erode the outer edge of the shorefast ice particularly between Wales and Ikpek.
St. Lawrence Island:
As winds generally become lighter over the next week expect pack ice around the island to begin flowing more with the local tides and currents around the island. Expect the marginal ice zone (open water to open pack ice) west of the island to expand northwest and north of Gambell. Shorefast ice should remain relatively intact, however some of the outer edges of the ice may begin to become seasonably unstable as warmer water starts to erode the ice.
Wind Synopsis
St. Lawrence Island:
North to northwest winds 15 to 25 mph on Friday. Gusts at Gambell could reach 35 mph early morning on Saturday (5/2). Winds become west/southwest starting Sunday (5/3) morning and begin to generally weaken through Tuesday (5/5). Sustained winds between early Sunday and Tuesday are around 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
Wales to Shish:
Light and variable winds Friday afternoon. By Saturday (5/2) morning, an area of stronger winds is expected to move into the area with sustained winds between 10 to 20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. By Saturday night, these winds begin to taper off and turn west/southwesterly. The remainder of the forecast period (through Tuesday (5/5)), is expected to see relatively weaker winds between 5 to 15 mph sustained and gusts up to 15 to 20 mph.
Temperature Trend
St. Lawrence Island:
A slight dip in high temperatures is possible going into the weekend, with highs in the upper 20s to low 30s above and lows in the low to mid 20s above. Looking into next week, high temperatures are expected to stay in the low to mid 30s range while lows may increase slightly into the upper 20s going into Tuesday (5/5).
Wales to Shish:
A gradual cooldown is expected through the weekend and into next week, with highs potentially hitting the low 30s with overnight lows in the low 20s through Tuesday (5/5).
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
Wednesday,29 April 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
33° NE 20 mph
Thursday, 30 April 2026 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
31° N 16 mph dense fog, see walrus in water, bowhead, and some bearded seal.
Sea ice and weather conditions near Gambell, AK. Images courtesy of Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
Observations from Sivungaq / Savoonga
Friday, 1 May 2026 – Aqef Waghiyi
Savoonga is still iced in.
Saturday, 2 May 2026 – Aqef Waghiyi
No open water, calm and sunny out.
Sea ice and weather conditions in Savoonga, AK. Images courtesy of Aqef Waghiyi.
Observations from Kingigin / Wales
Observation from Wales coming soon.
Observations from Kigiktaq / Shishmaref
Friday, 1 May 2026 – Christopher Ningeulook
Whiteout conditions today, light and variable winds turn westerly. Wind driven ocean currents are available on the windy app for anyone to see if they’re interested.
View Christoopher’s video at https://youtube.com/shorts/7Vs_UH3BU0Y?feature=share
Weather forecast information from the Windy app courtesy of Christopher Ningeulook.
Observations from Sitnasuaq / Nome
Observation from Nome coming soon.
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 29 April – 7 May 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)