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FZAK80 PAFC 122133

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

131 PM AKDT Friday 12 April 2024



FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 17 April 2024



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high.



SYNOPSIS...High pressure will move east across the Aleutian Islands 

through the weekend, then a low will move northeast through the 

Bering Sea Monday through Wednesday.



The main ice edge extends from near Pilot Point to 58 5’N 162 35’W 

to 57 30’N 164 8’W to 58 38’N 169 2’W to 58 5’N 170 13’W to 60 30’N 

178 40’W and continues in Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.



From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 

near Pilot Point to 35 nm south of Cape Newenham to 95 nm southwest 

of Cape Newenham to 100 nm northeast of Saint Paul to 55 nm north of 

Saint Paul to 275 nm southwest of Gambell and continues in Russian 

waters. The ice edge is open water.



-BEAUFORT SEA-



PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ510-Eastern US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

PKZ814-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ815-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point out to 15 nm-

PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 nm to 80 nm-

PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 15 nm to 75 nm-



Ice covered.



FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 

confidence is high. West to southwest winds will persist through 

Wednesday. The ice pack will slowly move to the east and northeast 

through the forecast period.



-CHUKCHI SEA-



PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ807-Wales to Cape Espenberg out to 15 nm-

PKZ808-Cape Espenberg to Motherwood Point out to 10 nm-

PKZ809-Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 nm-

PKZ810-Cape Krusenstern to Cape Thompson out to 15 nm-

PKZ811-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort out to 15 nm-

PKZ812-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 nm-

PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

PKZ855-Kotzebue Sound greater than 10 nm-

PKZ856-Wales to Cape Thompson greater than 15 nm-

PKZ857-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort from 15 to 85 nm-

PKZ858-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 nm-



Ice covered.



FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 

confidence is high. Winds will generally be westerly to southerly 

through the forecast period. Polynyas will likely form anytime wind 

is blowing from land to sea, and close off again when wind blows 

from sea to land.



-BERING SEA-



PKZ762-Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Peirce out to 15 nm-

PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-

PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island-

PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island waters-

PKZ801-Etolin Strait to Dall Point out to 15 nm-

PKZ802-Dall Point to Kwikpak Pass out to 15 nm-

PKZ803-Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens out to 15 nm-

PKZ804-Cape Stephens to Moses Point out to 15 nm-

PKZ805-Moses Point to Sledge Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ806-Sledge Island to Wales out to 15 nm-

PKZ816-South side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ817-North side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ850-Etolin Strait to Kwemeluk Pass from 15 to 90 nm-

PKZ851-Southwest of Saint Lawrence Island from 15 to 100 nm-

PKZ852-Norton Sound greater than 15 nm-

PKZ853-Kwemeluk Pass to Kwikpak Pass from 15 to 90 nm-

PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-



Ice covered.



PKZ412-Bering Sea 171W to 180 and North of 56N-

PKZ414-Bering Sea East of 171W-

PKZ756-Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 nm-

PKZ758-Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 nm-

PKZ760-Bristol Bay greater than 15 nm-

PKZ761-Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 nm-

PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-

PKZ766-Pribilof Islands Nearshore Waters-



FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence 

is moderate. 



From Nunivak Island west, winds will be westerly through Saturday, 

then shift to southerly through Tuesday. As the low moves north 

through the Bering Sea through Wednesday, winds will shift to 

westerly to northwesterly behind the low. Expect the ice pack to 

drift 30 to 40 nm east through Wednesday.



East of Nunivak Island, northwesterly winds will shift to southerly 

Monday. The ice pack will move to the southeast 10 to 20 nm through 

Monday, then retreat up to 10 nm through Wednesday.   



-COOK INLET-



PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-



FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is 

high. New sea ice may briefly form overnight when air temperatures 

drop below freezing, then melt during the daytime. River ice may 

move south into upper Cook Inlet via the Knik River. Otherwise, Cook 

Inlet is expected to remain largely sea ice free through Wednesday.  



&&

Schreck