####018004945####
FZAK80 PAFC 152257

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

257 PM AKDT Monday 15 April 2024



FORECAST VALID...Saturday 20 April 2024



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.



SYNOPSIS...High pressure remains over the western Bering Sea while a 

storm system remains nearly stationary south of the Alaska Peninsula.



The main ice edge extends from near Pilot Point to 58 1’N 162 14’W 

to 57 21’N 163 11’W to 59 53’N 173 28’W to 60 32’N 174 54’W to 60 

30’N 178 53’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 85 nm southwest 

of Cape Newenham to 40 nm south of Saint Matthew Island 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. Northeast winds will continue through late week. 

Expect ice to mainly move with currents from east to west.  



-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 remain northerly through Thursday 

morning, then a brief period of light southeasterlies through 

Friday. Ice in the area should remain relatively unchanged through 

the week. 



-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. 



Expect a late season period of advance as light to moderate 

northerly winds set up through the week. Expect the ice edge to 

advance on the order of 10-15 nm/day through Saturday. The ice edge 

is lower concentration strips already at this point, where the 

northerly winds will continue to push strips to the south to 

gradually melt in warmer water and increasing sunlight hours. While 

the marginal ice zone will advance/expand 30 to 40 nm to the south, 

the pack ice will only advance 10 to 20 nm. 



-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 Saturday.  



&&

Lawson