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FZAK80 PAFC 012252

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

251 PM AKDT Wednesday 1 May 2024



FORECAST VALID...Monday 6 May 2024



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate.



SYNOPSIS...A low will move east across the southern Bering Sea 

through Thursday, then a second low will move south from the Bering 

Strait Region through the central Bering Sea toward the Aleutian 

Islands on Monday. 



The main ice edge extends from near Quinhagak to 58 28’N 165 30’W to 

59 24’N 167 59’W to 58 38’N 168 4’W to 61 3’N 178 35’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 Quinhagak to 105 nm west of Cape Newenham to 50 nm south of 

Cape Mohican to 100 nm south of Cape Mohican to 250 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. Winds will generally be light and variable 

through Friday, then become northeasterly through Monday. Sea ice 

will move with local currents through Friday, then the northeasterly 

winds will keep the ice pack well established along the coast. 



-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 remain out of the north 

through Monday. Polynyas will continue to open from Utqiagvik 

through Kivalina, but will quickly fill in with new ice.



-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 high. For Saint Matthew Island north, winds will be northerly 

through Monday. South of Saint Matthew Island, winds over the ice 

pack will be easterly through Friday then become northerly Saturday 

through Monday. Sea ice movement will generally be to the west and 

southwest through Saturday, then to the south through Monday. As ice 

drifts south, the floes along the ice edge will melt as they move 

into warmer waters. Overall, expect the ice edge to move west 20 to 

30 nm through Monday. With some cooler air moving south across the 

northern Bering Sea, there may be some new ice formation where 

polynyas form near the Alaska mainland coastline as well as off the 

south side of Saint Lawrence Island.   



&&

Schreck