Whether you start or end your Northwest Passage in Nome these weather references speaks volumes

Ref url: http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/P_sfc_full_ocean.jpg

National Weather Service: Offshore Waters Forecast For The US Arctic Waters - TEXT

http://pafg.arh.noaa.gov/wmofcst.php?wmo=FZAK69PAFG&type=marine

and

For Alaska Arctic waters by ZONE NUMBER: http://pafg.arh.noaa.gov/