Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus
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Synopsis A western Bering Sea low continues to weaken as it moves north to the Bering Strait on Thursday. A strong low will move into the southwest Bering Sea on Friday and then to the eastern Bering Sea on Saturday and Sunday. High pressure enters the Bering Sea on Monday.
Near St. Lawrence Island
On Thursday, 4 April, a polynya extended approximately 7 miles (11 km) off the north side of the island from near Gambell to Lietnik. Beyond the polynya and off the east and west sides of the island is very close pack ice consisting of big to vast floes. There is shorefast ice extending approximately 4 miles (6 km) between Iwoorigan Camp and Apatiki Camp as well as between Lietnik and Siknik Training Camp. From Powooiliak Camp to east of Siknik Training Camp, a polynya is filling in with new ice.
Nome
This area has not yet started for the 2024 SIWO season.
Nome port entrance webcam (via AOOS webpage): https://bering-sea.portal.aoos.org/?ls=79875242-e362-65cb-914e-fed20ff9…
Brevig Mission/Port Clarence Area
This area has not yet started for the 2024 SIWO season.
Wales to Shishmaref
This area has not yet started for the 2024 SIWO season.
Diomede
This area has not yet started for the 2024 SIWO season.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
With northerly winds through Monday, 8 April, the ice pack will drift south. The polynya off the south side of St. Lawrence Island will re-form as well. As winds shift to southerly on Tuesday, 9 April, the polynya will close off and a new one will form off the north side of the island. There will likely also be thinning of the ice pack west of Gambell as the warmer air moves in late Tuesday, 9 April through Thursday, 11 April.
Wind Synopsis
Winds at Gambell will generally be from the northeast at 9 to 12 mph (8 to 10 kt) Friday morning. Winds will rise through Friday afternoon, reaching around 17 mph (15 kt) by midnight and 25 to 28 mph (22 to 24 kt) Saturday morning before dropping slightly through the day. Winds will generally remain north to northwest in the 17 to 23 mph (15 to 20 kt) range Sunday through Monday evening. Winds will slacken to 9 to 12 mph (8 to 10 kt) from the west and then south on Tuesday. Thereafter, there is increased uncertainty, but there is a chance for increased winds in the 17 to 23 mph (15 to 20 kt) range from the south to east on Wednesday and Thursday, falling to near 12 mph (10 kt) on Friday.
Temperature Trend
Highs in Gambell will not change very much through the week, with highs on Friday in the lower 20s falling into the mid-teens through Monday before rising back into the lower-to-mid 20s through next week. Lows on Friday morning will fall from the upper teens into the single digits from Friday night through Monday night. Thereafter, lows rise back into the mid-teens through the remainder of the period.
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/.
Marine forecast for the West Coast and Arctic Coast
Remote Sensing Images
Observations and Comments
Observations of Sea Ice Development
Observations from Port Clarence, Brevig Mission, and Cape Douglas
Thursday, 4 April 2024 – Marcus Barr
Not able to make an ice report due to weather, whiteout and snow with no visibility on the ice.
Observations from Savoonga
Thursday, 4 April 2024 – Aqef Waghiyi
Few boats went out today and got walrus south at 15 degrees. Warm, 39 F.
Observations from Gambell
Friday, 5 April 2024 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
We had big storm this week, starting to get water, bad ice. No mammals on the ice yet, the ice looks bad from here, hopefully north wind blow good ice this way right now 20° and little north wind.
Update: 1 p.m few boats are going out.
Observations from Diomede
Friday, 5 April 2024 – Marty Eeleengayouq Ozenna
We having water opening and closing back, and about 25–35 knots north wind, both sides north and south closed up.
Additional Comments Provided by Local Experts and Other Contributors
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 3–11 April 2024
Visit the SIWO Facebook page @seaiceforwalrus 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).
