When Does the Ice Leave Nome, Alaska? A Seasonal Guide

Perched on the southern coast of the Seward Peninsula, Nome, Alaska, faces the Bering Sea and the Bering Strait. Life here revolves around the dramatic annual cycle of sea ice.

The Annual Ice Cycle

• Freeze-Up (October): Ice begins forming in the sheltered bays and the Strait.
• Maximum Extent (March–April): The Bering Sea ice pack reaches its peak, often locking Nome in solidly.
• Break-Up (May): Rising temperatures and storm action fracture the ice. Floes begin drifting.
• Ice-Out (Late June – Early July): The coast is typically clear of sea ice by the end of June, though residual floes can linger into early July.

Variability is Key: The exact "ice-out" date shifts yearly based on winter severity, spring winds, and ocean currents. Locals and mariners watch the National Weather Service ice forecasts closely, as the departure of ice opens the port for the summer shipping and fishing season.