Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025

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 Kulowiye, 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 Saint Lawrence Island are sea ice free.

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 etends north past Point Hope. The remainder of the waters near Wales to Shishmaref are sea ice free.

Sea ice free water exists between and around the Diomede Islands.

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.

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 Saint Lawrence Island.

Wind Forecast

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 south east 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 Forecast

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.

Overall, sea ice will continue to drift north overall 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).