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FZAK80 PAFC 062300

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

300 PM AKDT Wednesday 6 September 2023



FORECAST VALID...Monday 11 September 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high.



SYNOPSIS...Low pressure stretches from the eastern High Arctic 

southward into the eastern Beaufort Sea. High pressure builds over 

the Chukchi Sea through Friday, moving into the Beaufort Sea over 

the weekend.

 

-BEAUFORT SEA-



PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ510-Eastern US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 NM-



The main ice edge in the Beaufort Sea extends from 76 46'N 156 11'W 

to 76 38'N 143 58'W to 75 37'N 152 21'W to 74N 144 52'W to 73 20'N 

138 53'W and continues eastward in Canadian waters. The ice edge is 

open water.



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

Sea extends from 310 nm north of Point Barrow to 360 nm north-

northeast of Point Barrow to 250 nm north-northeast of Point Barrow 

to 250 nm northeast of Point Barrow to 215 nm north of Demarcation 

Point and continues east in Canadian waters. The ice edge is open 

water.



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

confidence is high. Winds will shift out of the north Wednesday 

evening, then out of the west on Friday. Light southerly winds 

return late weekend. Ice will drift southward 20 to 30 nm through 

Saturday while melting in warmer waters. Sunday and Monday, expect 

the ice edge to retreat to the north 10 to 15 nm. 



-CHUKCHI SEA-



PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-

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

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





The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from 76 46'N 156 11'W 

to 74 53'N 168 21'W  to 72 21'N 158 21'W to 72 3'N 175 44'W to 70 

57'N 172 35'W to 68 4'N 176 56'W. The ice edge is open water.



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

Sea extends from 310 nm north of Point Barrow to 280 nm northwest of 

Point Barrow to 70 nm northwest of Point Barrow to 350 nm west of 

Point Barrow to 260 nm west of Point Franklin to 220 nm west of 

Point Hope. The ice edge is open water.



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

confidence is high. Light westerly winds will set up across the area 

through Friday. Expect ice to advance to the southeast 20 to 30 nm, 

while melting in warmer waters. Saturday through Monday, light 

southerly winds return, retreating the ice edge 10 to 20 nm to the 

north. 





&&

Lawson