Weekly Outlook for SIWO

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024

The only ice remaining around the island is between Camp Iveetok and Camp Kulowiye. There is close pack ice between those features extending up to 2 miles (3.2 km) offshore near those endpoints. However, a large narrow corridor of pack ice extends up to 75 miles (120 km) to the northeast. The remaining ice looks to be brash ice to small floes and is melting quickly. It will likely be gone in another week to 10 days. 

Ice free water extends from Wales to Ikpek. Between Ikpek and Shishmaref is an area of very open pack ice with anywhere from ice cakes to brash ice. To the northeast of Shishmaref is very open pack ice with a few small to medium floes up to 20 miles (32 km). The remaining pack ice is near Espenberg and northward toward Kivalina.  

Diomede is sea ice free for the season.

Norton Sound is sea ice free for the season. 

Port Clarence/Brevig Mission is sea ice free for the season. 

The remaining open pack ice near Shishmaref will melt this week, and remaining pack ice between Espenberg and Kivalina will quickly decrease in concentration as a warmer air mass moves overhead. Ice free conditions will likely exist within a week. 

Wind Synopsis

Today we will see variable winds at 5 to 10 knots as a surface low moves across the area. Tonight will see winds strengthen and turn northerly with winds at 10 to 15 knots. Tomorrow (June 28) will have southerly winds at 10 to 15 knots turn southerly briefly overnight at 5 to 10 knots.  Saturday (June 29) will have persistent northeasterly winds at 10 knots. Sunday (June 30) the winds shift to the northwest at 10 to 15 knots and remain westerly until Tuesday afternoon (July 2). Tuesday night we will see winds shift out of the south at 5 to 10 knots. Those should continue through Thursday (July 4).

We will see temperatures in the mid 50s today. Then begin to cool into the mid 40s starting tomorrow and will persist through next Thursday. Low temperatures will be in the low to mid 30s throughout the week.