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 quiet weather is expected for St. Lawrence Island for the foreseeable future. A front will develop over western Alaska tomorrow but most likely keep any snow to the east of St. Lawrence Island and over the Seward Peninsula/Norton Sound area. High pressure over Siberia will keep north to northwest winds through early next week. Then a front from a low in the Bering may bring a chance for light snow and breezy southeast winds by the middle and end of next week.
Near St. Lawrence Island
Off the east and west coasts of the island, there are mainly big to giant floes within close to very close pack ice. A large polynya south of the island has filled in with new sea ice in close to very close pack ice that is gradually thicker farther away from the southern coast. North of the island is shorefast ice extending up to 2 miles (3 km) from the shore, then compact pack ice that extends up to 11 miles (17 km) from the shore. Beyond that is consolidated ice consisting of big to giant floes.
Nome
This area has not begun yet for the 2025 season.
Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area
This area has not begun yet for the 2025 season.
Wales to Shishmaref
This area has not begun yet for the 2025 season.
Diomede
This area has not begun yet for the 2025 season.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
Sea ice will generally drift south, however the ice pack off the west coast of St. Lawrence Island will drift east to northeast Saturday (Mar 22) through Monday (Mar 24), then ice south of the island will begin to drift west Tuesday (Mar 25) through Thursday (Mar 27). Sea ice will continue to compact against the north side of the island.
Wind Synopsis
North winds around 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph will weaken through Friday to 10 to 20 mph. Winds shift to the northwest on Saturday and persist through Monday at around 15 to 25 mph with the strongest winds being in Gambell and just south of St. Lawrence Island while winds to the north remain lighter. A front in the Bering will then shift winds around St. Lawrence Island to 15 to 25 mph from the southeast on Tuesday, then they gradually shift back to the north by next Thursday.
Temperature Trend
Temperatures in the single digits above zero for highs and down to the teens below zero for lows through early next week. Then as the front approaches from the west, temperatures will rise well above freezing with highs in the 20s or even near 30 above zero Tuesday through Thursday.
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 Gambell
Thursday, 20 March 2025 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
-2°deg, windy NNE 20 mph. Still could see the open water 2 miles out NW today.
Sea ice and weather conditions in Gambell. Photos courtesy of Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
Observations from Brevig Mission/Port Clarence
Thursday, 20 March 2025 – Marcus Barr
Winter started late for Brevig, late freeze up with a couple warm spells that melted our snow. As for Shorefast ice, it didn’t freeze as far out and ice edge is near Port Clarence SW of Brevig.
Observations from Savoonga
Friday, 21 March 2025 – Aqef Waghiyi
30°F, lite wind from the north at 5 knots, dew point 24.3, pressure 1008.7, humidity 65.7.
Sea ice and weather conditions in Savoonga. Photos courtesy of Aqef Waghiyi.
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 26 June–4 July 2024
Click the image below to view this animation showing 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).
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)