Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus
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Synopsis: Unsettled weather will begin Friday night (June 20th) as a low pressure in the southern Bering Sea sends a series of fronts across the Seward Peninsula and into the Bering Strait. There are chances for scattered rain showers everyday through the week as the low pressure continues to sit in the Bering Sea. The heaviest rain is looking to be Wednesday night and into Thursday. Winds will generally be 10 to 20 mph (8 to 17 kts) through the week. Areas of fog are anticipated in the mornings whenever there are onshore winds.
Near St. Lawrence Island
The only sea ice left around the island is between Savoonga and Camp Kulowiyi. As of Tuesday evening, there was a patch of very open pack ice, brash ice, and small ice cakes 5 miles (8 km) to the northeast of Camp Iveetok. Another patch of very open pack ice, brash ice, and small ice cakes lies between 22 and 34 miles (35 to 55 km) northwest of Camp Kulowiyi. Between these two areas is open water with brash ice and small ice cakes. The open water extends 40 miles (64 km) to the north of the Island.
Nome
Sea ice-free water exists along the Nome coastline and across northern Norton Sound.
Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area
The area is sea ice-free. The closest ice is very open pack ice consisting of brash to ice cakes 33 miles (53 km) to the west of Port Clarence.
Wales to Shishmaref
Decaying formerly shorefast ice is becoming mobile along the coast from Mugistokiwik through Shishmaref. The ice extends up to 10 miles (16 km) away from the coast near Ikpek but is generally within 3 miles (5 km) of the coast near Shishmaref. Sea ice is mostly close pack ice in all areas. North of Ikpek are several vast and giant floes. Near Shishmaref are medium to big floes.
Diomede
Sea ice-free water exists between and around the Diomede Islands. There is an area of open pack ice between 7 and 16 miles to the east of Diomede. The ice is decaying brash ice and small ice cakes with some small floes.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
Sea ice will generally move with tides and currents for the next week. Expect the very open to open pack ice between Ukivok and Diomede to continue to progress northward through the Bering Strait on the order of 10–15 nm/day. This ice is rapidly decaying and may be completely gone by next week. The decaying shorefast ice between Wales and Shishmaref may still be around but broken up into open pack ice and small to medium floes.
Wind Synopsis
St. Lawrence Island:
Friday the winds will predominantly be out of the northeast. Near Gambell and Savoonga, the winds will be the strongest at 15 to 20 mph, while east of Savoonga will see winds of 10 to 15 mph. Saturday the winds will switch directions to the southeast. The winds will be 10 to 15 mph across the island. The southeast winds will continue through Tuesday night when there will be another wind shift to the northeast. The northeast winds will be 10 to 15 mph and will continue through Friday.
Wales/Diomede:
Winds will begin out of the northeast on Friday with winds up to 15 mph. Saturday we will see the winds start out of the east in the morning before turning to the southeast in the evening. There will be a brief period of stronger winds, when it first turns to the southeast with winds up to 25 mph being possible. These winds will be very brief before weakening to 15 mph. Southerly winds will continue until Monday evening. Tuesday, the winds will be variable at 15 mph as a lingering front is causing rapid wind shifts. By Wednesday these winds will settle out of the north with speeds up to 20 mph and continue through Thursday.
Shishmaref area:
Winds will be out of the northeast at 15 mph on Friday. Saturday winds will be variable as a front begins to move over Shishmaref. Winds will periodically be stronger with winds up to 20 mph, but should generally be around 10 mph. Sunday the winds will be fairly light out of the south with winds up to 10 mph. Monday the winds will shift to the northwest at 10 to 15 mph. These northwest winds will continue through Friday, however Thursday they will strengthen to 20 to 25 mph.
Temperature Trend
St. Lawrence Island:
Daytime temperatures will remain in the mid 40s through the week with nighttime temperatures in the upper 30s.
Wales/Diomede:
Friday and Saturday will see daytime temperatures around 50 before cooling to the upper 40s Sunday through Thursday. Nighttime temperatures will remain in the upper 30s.
Shishmaref area:
Friday and Saturday temperatures will be in the mid 50s, before cooling down to the upper 40s on Sunday. The upper 40s will continue throughout the week. Nighttime temperatures will be in the upper 30s.
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
Monday, 16 June 2025 – Christopher Ningeulook
Clear satellite images.
Wednesday, 18 June 2025 – Christopher Ningeulook
Our west channel has opened up a trail for our hunters!
Friday, 20 June 2025 – Christopher Ningeulook
Reports of walrus spotted by hunters, pic credit (Edward Kokeok) More hunters are now able to launch their boats off of our island after the ice has opened up. Our lagoon and west channel. Weather looks favorable for ocean travel this weekend but fog mainly where ice is present is possible. Little to no rain could be expected just enough to bother and closer to town.
Photo courtesy of Edward Kokeok.
Satellite imagery courtesy of Christopher Ningeulook.
Friday, 20 June 2025 – Alexander Weyiouanna
A polar bear was spotted in scatter ice a couple miles near herds of walrus. Crews were successful harvesting walrus and bearded seals 30 miles northeast of Shishmaref.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Weyiouanna.
Observations from Diomede
Tuesday, 17 June 2025 – Odge Ahkinga
Sea ice 6 miles east of Diomede we caught one walrus 5 bearded seals.
Weather and sea ice conditions in Diomede. Photos courtesy of Odge Ahkinga.
Friday, 20 June 2025 – Odge Ahkinga
I thought vessels were to stay clear of the sea ice with subsistence hunting? Lot of sea ice this morning 1 mile east of fairway rock.
Weather and sea ice conditions in Diomede. Photos courtesy of Odge Ahkinga.
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 16–24 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)