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Synopsis – A low will gradually move eastward across the southern Bering Sea through Saturday, then move south into the North Pacific Sunday and Monday.
There is shorefast ice, mainly on the north and east side of St. Lawrence Island, generally extending 1 to 2 miles offshore. Beyond the shorefast ice on the north side of the island is compact pack ice to consolidated ice consisting of medium to vast floes. To the east and west of the island is open pack ice that extends 23 miles to the west of the island and 11 miles to the east of the island. To the south of the island is open water extending up to 90 miles.
Shorefast ice around the Nome area extends up to 2 miles offshore from Sinuk to near Solomon, and up to 7 miles offshore near Cape Rodney out to Sledge Island. There is an area of open pack ice south of Nome, with open water to the west of Dexter and to the east of Cape Nome. Close to very close pack ice exists south of the open water, throughout central and southern Norton Sound with medium to vast floes.
Shorefast ice remains intact and extends 23 to 25 miles west/southwest of Brevig Mission. There is a small polynya that extends off the shorefast ice up to 4 miles, then close pack ice consisting of medium to vast floes.
Shorefast ice extends up to 2.5 miles from the coast. Beyond the shorefast ice is consolidated ice consisting of medium to giant floes. To the west and northwest of Wales, very open pack ice to open water extends up to 30 miles.
Shorefast ice persists between the islands. There is consolidated ice to the north of the shorefast that extends around 2.5 miles. Otherwise, open water extends to the north, east, and south of the island.
Forecast Discussion
Ice Forecast
Continued offshore flow will move the icepack mainly to the southwest, 20 to 30 miles through Thursday May 20th. Polynyas will continue to grow. Thinner sea ice between thicker ice floes will continue to melt through the week.
NWS 5-day Sea Ice Forecast
NWS Sea Ice Stage Analysis
Wind Synopsis
Norton Sound Region...
Friday, May 15th northeast wind 10 to 15 kts (12–17 mph) becoming northwest Sunday, May 17th in the morning. Wind on Monday, May 18th shifts to west and increases to 15 to 20 kts (17–23 mph) diminishing to southwest 10 to 15 kts (12–17 mph) Tuesday, May 19th in the afternoon. The wind diminishes to variable 5 to 10 kts (6–12 mph) for Wednesday, May 20th then shifts into the east and increases to 15 to 20 kts (17–23 mph) on Thursday, May 21st before diminishing on Friday, May 22nd morning back down to 5 to 10 Kts (6–12 mph) from the southeast.
Bering Strait and Saint Lawrence Island Region...
Friday, May 15th northeast wind 20 to 25 kts diminishing to northwest 15 to 20 kts (17–23 mph) late Sunday, May 17th. Wind on Monday, May 18th becomes variable 5 to 15 kts (6–12 mph) until Thursday, May 21st when early in the morning it begins increasing to northeast 20 to 25 kts (23–27 mph) through Friday.
Temperature Trend
Norton Sound Region...Friday, May 14th through Friday, May 21st maximum temperatures in the 40s. Minimum temperatures in the upper 20s to upper 30s.
Bering Strait Region...Friday, May 14th through Friday, May 21st maximum temperatures in the mid to upper 30s. Minimum temperatures 25 to 30.
St. Lawrence Island Region...Friday, May 14th through Friday, May 21st maximum temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s.
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
