Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus
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Synopsis: Generally wet and rainy conditions to start off the period with the greatest rain chances for Nome occurring Friday through Saturday morning. St. Lawrence Island can expect to see rain starting Friday afternoon through Saturday evening. Potentially scattered showers may linger across the West Coast through Sunday night, but rain chances diminish afterwards. Temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s for the Seward Peninsula through the week, with St. Lawrence Island seeing slightly lower temperatures around the low 40s. The strongest winds will be out of the south/southeast between 20–35 mph (17–30 kts) and occur over St. Lawrence Island and the Bering Strait Saturday morning through Sunday morning.
Near St. Lawrence Island
Between Iwoorigan Camp and Savoonga, only very open pack ice consisting of brash ice remains up to 9 miles (15 km) from shore. Beyond this sea ice to the north is sea ice-free water.
Between Savoonga and Camp Kulowiyi, shorefast ice extends offshore up to 1 mile (0.6 km). There is then an area of very open pack ice consisting of brash ice and small floes extending 15 miles (24 km) north from the shorefast ice. An area of close pack ice consisting of small to big floes extends another 60 miles (96 km) north while an area of belts and strips of ice in very open pack ice is just west of the close pack ice. Otherwise, the waters surrounding St. Lawrence Island are sea ice-free.
Nome
Sea ice-free water exists along the Nome coastline and across northern Norton Sound. The nearest sea ice is 60 miles (96 km) southwest of Nome and is close pack ice consisting of small to big floes.
Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area
The sea ice between Port Clarence and Brevig Mission is continuing to break up quickly. An area of close to very close pack ice extends from Brevig Mission out toward Port Clarence. Sea ice-free waters extend beyond that out to 70 miles (113 km) where an area of close to very close pack ice consisting of small to big floes extends toward St. Lawrence Island.
Wales to Shishmaref
Shorefast ice extends from 10 miles (16 km) north of Wales to 1.5 miles (2.4 km) offshore Shishmaref. Beyond the shorefast ice between Wales and Shishmaref is very open pack ice consisting of mainly brash ice to medium floes. From Shishmaref east, close to very close pack ice consisting of medium to vast floes extends 35 to 60 miles (56 to 96 km) north of the shorefast ice. East of Singeak, the close to very close pack ice extends north past Point Hope. The remainder of the waters near Wales to Shishmaref are sea ice-free.
Diomede
Sea ice-free water exists between and around the Diomede Islands.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
Overall, sea ice will continue to drift north through Saturday, then will generally move with local tides and currents Sunday (June 15) through Thursday (June 19). The sea ice between St. Lawrence Island and the Bering Strait will continue to melt quickly and may be completely melted out by Thursday (June 19). North of the Bering Strait, expect the pack ice from Shishmaref east especially to continue drifting north though there may be a period of southward drift Monday and Tuesday (June 16 and 17).
Wind Synopsis
St. Lawrence Island/Wales/Diomede:
Winds in the St. Lawrence Island–Wales/Diomede areas will initially blow from the south-to-southeast on Friday (June 13), with winds blowing at 20–25 mph (17–22 kt) at Wales/Diomede and 5–10 mph (4–9 kt) at St. Lawrence Island. As a low-pressure system moves into the area, winds will turn to the east to southeast and increase to 20–35 mph (17–30 kt), first at St. Lawrence Island early on Saturday morning, then at Wales/Diomede by the late morning. As the system exits the area to the northwest, winds will gradually weaken from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, by which time winds will be 12–18 knots, with winds being under 12 mph (10 kt) by Sunday night. Winds will become northerly over the Wales/Diomede areas Monday morning and increase to 15–20 mph (13–17 kt) while winds at St. Lawrence Island will remain generally westerly and under 12 mph (10 kt). Wednesday night, winds at Wales/Diomede will become southerly again and blow at 10–20 mph (17–26 kt), while St. Lawrence Island will see winds of around 10–15 mph (9–13 kt), and this will generally continue through Friday (June 20).
Shishmaref area:
Winds in Shishmaref begin Friday (June 13) out of the southwest between 6–12 mph (5–10 kts) before slightly increasing to 12–17 mph (10–15 kts) out of the west Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, winds will be out of the south/southwest between 17–23 mph (15–20 kts) before decreasing to 6–12 mph (5–10 kts) later that evening. Winds shift toward the west between 6–12 mph (5–10 kts) by Sunday morning. On Sunday night, winds shift again toward the north/northwest between 6–12 mph (5–10 kts). Winds finish off the period out of the west/southwest between 12–17 mph (10–15 kts) Thursday morning through Friday (June 20).
Nome/Brevig Mission area:
Winds start off Friday (June 13) out of the south between 12–17 mph (10–15 kts) before slightly increasing to 17–23 mph (15–20 kts) out of the south/southeast Friday evening. By Saturday afternoon, winds will continue to be out of the south between 17–23 mph (15–20 kts) before decreasing to 6–12 mph (5–10 kts) out of the southeast by Saturday night. Winds will be out of the north/northwest between 12–17 mph (10-15 kts) beginning Sunday night, continuing through Thursday morning. Winds finish out the period from the southwest between 12–17 mph (10–15 kts) Thursday afternoon through Friday (June 20).
Temperature Trend
At St. Lawrence Island, highs will generally be in the lower 40s through the weekend, with mid 40s possible from Monday onward. Lows will generally fall in the mid 30s.
At Shishmaref, highs will be in the mid-to-upper 40s on most days, with low 50s possible on Saturday. Lows will be in the upper 30s and low 40s from Friday (June 13) through Sunday, and the low to mid 30s from Monday through Friday (June 20).
At Nome, highs will be in the low 50s on Friday (June 13), the mid-to-upper 50s Saturday and Sunday, and the mid 50s to low 60s from Monday through Friday (June 20). Lows will fall in the lower-to-mid 40s.
At Brevig Mission, highs will be in the lower 50s on Friday (June 13) and will rise into the upper 50s on Saturday and Sunday and the mid-to-upper 50s from Monday through Friday (June 20). Lows will fall in the lower-to-mid 40s.
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 Savoonga
Friday, 13 June 2025 – Aqef Waghiyi
Observation from Savoonga coming soon.
Observations from Shishmaref
Wednesday, 11 June 2025 – Christopher Ningeulook
As expected, southern winds have opened up any leads and have presented opportunities for our hunters to pull their boats to the shore fast ice edge to launch in search of marine mammals for harvesting. Southerner winds will continue throughout the week with occasional rain showers.
Sea ice and weather conditions in Shishmaref. Photos courtesy of Christopher Ningeulook. Visit the Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook Facebook page for videos.
Friday, 13 June 2025 – Curtis Nayokpuk
Wind and rain slowing down hunters.
Satellite imagery for Friday, 13 June courtesy of Curtis Nayokpuk.
Satellite imagery for Saturday, 14 June courtesy of Curtis Nayokpuk.
Observations from Brevig Mission
Friday, 13 June 2025 – Marcus Barr
Shorefast ice is finally moving out after south winds for about a week that pushed up the ice. Last week the ice came back in and stayed awhile until now.
Weather and sea ice conditions in Brevig Mission. Photo courtesy of Marcus Barr.
Observations from Diomede
Saturday, 14 June 2025 – Odge Ahkinga
Elders used to say when the sea is like this there is sea ice nearby.
Weather and sea ice conditions in Diomede. Photo courtesy of Odge Ahkinga.
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 10–18 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)