A storm hits Norton Sound just before Friday's gillnet opening

A Bering Sea low is due into Norton Sound late Wednesday night, bringing west and northwest gusts to 45 mph, heavy rain, and seas building to 9 feet by Thursday night. Whether it clears in time matters: commercial salmon fishers are scheduled to put gear in the water Friday evening.

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks flagged high surf and minor coastal flooding from the Yukon Delta through Norton Sound and north of the Bering Strait, and told communities along that coast to keep watching the forecast.

Fish and Game has opened a 24-hour commercial gillnet period in Norton Sound Subdistricts 5 and 6 from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday, based on North River tower counts showing a harvestable surplus of chum.

The department wants a read on chum and coho abundance in marine waters and may add periods depending on how the fleet does. Mesh is capped at 6 inches. Subsistence schedules are unaffected.