Assessment of Current Ice Conditions Relevant to Distribution and Access of Walrus
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Synopsis Low pressure will move east across the central Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea through Thursday, then high pressure builds over the North Pacific and Bering Sea through Monday.
Near St. Lawrence Island
On Thursday, April 11th, a polynya extended approximately 5 miles (8 km) off the north side of the island from near Gambell to Lietnik. Aside from this polynya, surrounding the island is very close pack ice consisting of big to vast floes. There is shorefast ice extending approximately 6 miles (10 km) between Iwoorigan Camp and Apatiki Camp, approximately 3 miles (5 km) between Camp Iveetok around the east side of the island to near Siknik Training Camp.
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 Saturday, 13 April, the ice pack will drift south and the polynya off the north side of the island will briefly close off again. When winds shift to a more southerly direction again Sunday, 14 April through Tuesday, 16 April, the polynya will form off the north side of the island again and some shorefast ice may break off. There will likely also be thinning of the ice pack west of Gambell as stronger winds and warmer air moves in late Sunday, 14 April through Tuesday, 16 April.
Wind Synopsis
Winds at Gambell will generally be from the northwest at 18 to 24 mph (16 to 21 kt) Friday morning through Saturday morning. Winds will shift to easterly on Saturday afternoon at 13 to 17 mph (11 to 15 kt) and remain easterly through early Sunday morning. On Sunday morning, winds will turn southerly than southwesterly and increase to 21 to 28 mph (18 to 24 kt) Sunday afternoon. Winds will remain out of the southwest through early Wednesday at 14 to 21 mph (12 to 18 kt), diminishing during the day on Wednesday. Winds will turn northerly on Wednesday at 14 to 17 mph (12 to 15 kt) and remain that strong through Friday.
Temperature Trend
Highs in Gambell will be in the mid-20s Friday and Saturday, warming to the upper 20s on Sunday and into the lower 30s on Monday. Highs will return to the upper 20s on Tuesday and remain there on Wednesday. Highs look to be in the lower 20s at the end of next week. Low temperatures will be in the middle single digits above zero Friday morning, then warm into the teens to near 20 through Thursday. Friday lows look to be cooler (upper single digits) with the passage of a cold front.
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 Savoonga
Thursday, 11 April 2024 – Aqef Waghiyi
Breezy from the north. Blowing snow. NW wind 15-20. Pressure: 989. Humidity 88%. Nobody went out boating since last week.
Update: Friday, 12 April 2024
No open water today, it closed up.
Observations from Gambell
Friday, 12 April 2024 – Clarence Irrigoo, Jr.
All week we have winter weather advisory.
A hunter got a walrus here back side of ice.
Games on ice.
Winter weather advisory, windy N 30 mph.
14°, sunny, WNW 12 mph.
Observations from Port Clarence, Brevig Mission, and Cape Douglas
Thursday, 12 April 2024 – Marcus Barr
No ice report due to wind/blowing snow conditions.
Additional Comments Provided by Local Experts and Other Contributors
Shared by the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) for 10–18 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).
