Weekly Outlook for SIWO

Date: Thursday, June 22, 2026

St. Lawrence Island

An area of brash ice and ice cakes exists 15 to 30 miles north and northeast of the Lietnik to Camp Kulowiye area.

Remaining ice is limited to outer Kotzebue Sound with an area of pack ice 1-5 miles offshore of Shishmaref to Espenberg with greater concentration of ice near Espenberg. Ice is decaying quickly, brash and small ice cakes and small floes. 

The area is ice free. 

The area is ice free. 

The area is ice free.

Wind Forecast

St. Lawrence Island:

Winds remain from the northeast through Sunday (6/28) afternoon at 12-20 kt (14-25 mph). Winds will weaken and shift southwest sometime Sunday night or Monday morning at 7-12 kt (8-14 mph). Winds should increase slightly from the southwest on Tuesday (6/30) around 10-18 kt (12-21 mph). By Wednesday (7/1), a low in the Bering may try to shift winds westerly then northwesterly on Thursday (7/2), remaining around 10-18 mph (12-21 mph). 

Wales to Shishmaref:

Winds remain from the northeast through Sunday (6/28) afternoon at 18-30 kt (21-35 mph). Winds will weaken and shift southwest sometime Sunday night or Monday morning at 7-14 kt (8-16 mph). Winds should increase slightly from the southwest on Tuesday (6/30) around 10-20 kt (12-23 mph). By Wednesday (7/1), a low in the Bering may try to shift winds westerly then northwesterly on Thursday (7/2), remaining around 12-22 mph (14-25 mph).

Temperature Forecast

St. Lawrence Island:

High temperatures remain in the mid 40s over the ice/water through the period with mid 40s to mid 50s over the island. 

Wales to Shishmaref:

High temperatures remain in the low to mid 40s over the ice/water for the entire period and upper 40s to mid 50s along the coast.

St. Lawrence Island:

The remaining ice will likely melt in the next week, however there could be a small area of very open water remaining northeast of the Island.  

Wales to Shishmaref:

In the next week, ice will likely only remain in outer Kotzebue south, flowing northward along the coast toward Kivalina.