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: Generally dry conditions with sustained north to northeast winds of 10–20 mph (9–17 kt) are expected through Monday night, after which a few rounds of mostly rain accompanied by south winds move into the Bering Sea. The highest winds will be through the Bering Strait, where winds of 20–25 mph (17–22 kt) will be possible through much of the week. Temperatures will also warm up, especially getting past the middle of the week, when widespread highs in the 40s will be likely.
Near St. Lawrence Island
Between Iwoorigan Camp and Savoonga, very close to consolidated pack ice consisting of small to big floes extends up to 5 miles (8 km) offshore. Beyond this pack ice to the north is open water and sea ice-free water.
Between Kookoolik and Camp Kulowiyi, shorefast ice extends offshore up to 3 miles (4.8 km). Beyond the shorefast ice to the north between Kookoolik and Ataakas Camp is open water and sea ice-free water. Beyond the shorefast ice between Camp Iveetok and Lietnik, very close to consolidated pack ice consisting of medium to vast floes extends up to 20 miles (32 km). An area of giant flows near Camp Iveetok extends up to 13 miles (21 km) beyond the shorefast ice; this region of ice is roughly 22 miles (35 km) wide from west to east.
South and west of the island is sea ice-free water. East of the island, open pack ice to close pack ice consisting of small-to-big floes are surrounded by areas of open water, one such area of open water extending southeastward 40 miles (64 km) off the coast.
Nome
Sea ice-free water exists along the Nome coastline and across northern Norton Sound.
Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area
Close to very close pack ice consisting of small to medium floes extends across Port Clarence. There is an area of open water near and to the east of Teller. Beyond Port Clarence to the west is sea ice-free water.
Wales to Shishmaref
Shorefast ice extends from 28 miles (45 km) north of Wales to 3.5 miles (5.6 km) offshore Ikpek. Shorefast offshore Shishmaref extends up to 2.5 miles (4 km). Beyond the shorefast ice to the northwest is close to very close pack ice consisting of medium to vast flows in addition to a few giant flows. Along the immediate coastline 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west to 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Wales is open pack ice consisting of small to medium floes. Beyond this pack ice to the northwest, west, and south is open water and sea ice-free water.
Diomede
Sea ice-free water exists between and around the Diomede Islands.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
While northerly winds persist through Friday (June 6), sea ice will generally drift south; Sea ice will continue to compact against the northern coast of St. Lawrence Island. From Saturday (June 7) through Thursday (June 12), winds gradually shift southerly and sea ice will drift to the north; Sea ice will pull away to the north off of the Saint Lawrence Island coastline. Overall, sea ice will continue to melt and shorefast ice will continue to degrade.
Wind Synopsis
St. Lawrence Island/Wales/Diomede:
From Friday (June 6) through Saturday, winds at St. Lawrence Island will blow from the north to northwest at 5–10 mph (4–9 kt), while winds at Wales/Diomede will blow from the northwest at 15–20 mph (13–17 kt). Winds will then shift to the south to southwest on Sunday afternoon, with winds in both areas blowing at around 15–20 mph (13–17 kt). As a system moves into the Bering Sea from the west on Tuesday, these south winds will further increase to 20–25 mph (17–22 kt) in the Wales/Diomede area while remaining at about 15–20 mph (13–17 kt) at St. Lawrence Island (mostly the Gambell area). Thereafter, winds will blow mostly from the south to southeast at 10–15 mph (9–13 kt) at St. Lawrence Island and 15–20 mph (13–17 kt) in the Wales/Diomede areas, where occasional higher winds of 20–25 mph (17–22 kt) are possible.
Shishmaref area:
On Friday (June 6), winds will start off out of the northeast between 15–20 mph (13–17 kt) due to an upper-level low pressure system situated to the northeast of the Seward Peninsula. Winds slightly decrease to about 10 mph (9 kt) out of the north by Friday (June 6) evening. These winds will prevail until approximately Sunday morning when winds gradually begin to shift towards the southwest. By Monday morning, winds will increase to between 10–15 mph (9–13 kt) out of the southwest. Winds decrease to around 5–10 (4–9 kt) mph out of the southwest by Wednesday night and prevail through the end of the period.
Nome/Brevig Mission area:
On Friday (June 6), winds will be stronger at Brevig Mission than at Nome with wind speeds out of the NE between 15–20 mph (13–17 kt) at Brevig Mission and 5–10 mph (4–9 kt) at Nome. By early Saturday morning, winds at both locations decrease to 5–10 mph (4–9 kt) out of the north before winds shift towards the northwest Saturday afternoon. Winds are expected to increase at Nome to about 15 mph (13 kt) Saturday afternoon while winds stay around 10 mph (9 kt) in Brevig Mission. By Sunday morning, both locations have winds out of the northwest around 5–10 mph (4–9 kt) before increasing to about 10–20 mph (9–13 kt) out of the west by the afternoon hours Sunday. On Monday morning/afternoon, winds shift again towards the southwest with increasing winds at Brevig Mission at 15–20 mph (13–17 kt) and 5–10 mph (4–9 kt) at Nome. These winds will prevail until the end of the period.
Temperature Trend
At St. Lawrence Island and Wales/Diomede, highs will generally rise into the mid to upper 30s each day through Tuesday, with Wednesday through Friday (June 13) potentially seeing some temperatures just above 40. Lows will mostly be in the lower 30s and upper 20s during this same time frame for these areas, with mid-30s possible by Wednesday.
Shishmaref will see highs in the 30s through Monday, after which they will rise into the lower to mid 40s through Friday (June 13). Lows will be in the 20s through Monday morning, after which they will rise into the lower to mid 40s.
At Nome, highs will generally rise into the lower to mid 40s each day, with lows falling into the lower-to-mid 30s through Wednesday and remaining above 40 on Thursday and Friday (June 13).
Brevig Mission will follow a similar temperature trend to Nome while remaining a bit cooler, with highs rising from the lower 30s on Friday (June 6) into the upper 30s by Tuesday and the lower 40s by Wednesday. Lows will fall into the upper 20s on Friday (June 6) and rise into the mid-to-upper 30s by Thursday and Friday (June 13).
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, 6 June 2025 – Aqef Waghiyi
Wind 8 north, temp 29, humidity 74.4, baro 30.11.
Sunday, 8 June 2025 – Aqef Waghiyi
Been pretty busy at work pumping water around town. Nobody hunting for a few good days.
Weather conditions in Savoonga. Photo courtesy of Aqef Waghiyi.
Photos of sea ice and walrus around St. Lawrence Island courtesy of John Waghiyi.
View a video of this scene captured by John Waghiyi on the Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook Facebook page @seaiceforwalrus.
Observations from Brevig Mission / Port Clarence
Saturday, 7 June 2025 – Marcus Barr
Shorefast ice finally broke free in front of Brevig Mission and made a lead out to the ocean for hunters. Had strong northerly winds for a few days, along with what seemed like a week of a cold spell.
Sunday, 8 June 2025 – Marcus Barr
Shorefast ice came back and closed the lead near Brevig Mission, 3 boats had to break through the ice to come back to Brevig. Ice was about 6-8in thick and super solid.
Weather and sea ice conditions and walrus in Brevig Mission. Photos courtesy of Marcus Barr.
Observations from Shishmaref
Monday, 2 June 2025 – Curtis Nayokpuk
Crews finally went out launching boats approx. 15 miles West and brought home Bearded Seal. Break up started (NASA Worldview yesterday) from strong currents offshore as Northerly winds persist keeping ice closed in along the coast.
Satellite imagery from Nasa Worldview courtesy of Curtis Nayokpuk.
Thursday, 5 June 2025 – Christopher Ningeulook
North and NW winds have put a halt on hunting after a few boats launched and were successful in catching bearded seals. Wind conditions closed the lead as a few boats got stranded for roughly 12 hours during which about a dozen hunters all helped each other to push the boats over stretches of pack ice back to safe shore fast ice. Northerly winds will continue for another day or two with offshore winds possibly opening up the leads again by Monday.
Reminder to all hunters in the region to be safe and plan accordingly- check weather forecasts and changing ice conditions frequently. Good luck all!
Weather and sea ice conditions in Shishmaref. Photos and imagery courtesy of Christopher Ningeulook.
One of the boats that was pushed over the ice and towed back to safety. Picture credit to Thomas Pootoogooluk.
Observations from Diomede
Thursday, 5 June 2025 – Odge Ahkinga
Windy here, ice way up north. That’s where I’m headed when weather breaks.
Sunday, 7 June 2025 – Odge Ahkinga
19 miles east of Diomede photos taken by my hunting crew. Little success got three bull walrus.
Weather and sea ice conditions in Diomede. Images courtesy of Odge Ahkinga.
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 27 May–4 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)