####018004940####
FZAK80 PAFC 082241

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

241 PM AKDT Monday 8 April 2024



FORECAST VALID...Saturday 13 April 2024



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate.



SYNOPSIS...Low pressure will move east across the central Bering Sea 

and Chukchi Sea through Thursday, then high pressure builds over the 

North Pacific through Saturday.



The main ice edge extends from near Egegik to 57 53’N 158 23’W to 58 

27’N 163 34’W to 57 45’N 164 33’W to 58 31’N 169 31’W to 58N 171 

23’W to 60 23’N 176 49’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 Egegik to 30 nm north of Pilot Point to 45 nm west of Cape 

Newenham to 95 nm southwest of Cape Newenham to 90  nm north of 

Saint Paul Island to 70 nm northwest of St. Paul Island to 255 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 be light and variable through 

Wednesday, easterly Thursday, and westerly Friday through Saturday. 

The ice pack will move with the wind direction overall.



-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. Southeast winds will persist through Wednesday, 

then winds will shift to westerly to northwesterly Thursday through 

Saturday. Polynyas will form through Wednesday off west-facing 

coastlines, then close off again Thursday through Saturday as winds 

shift.



-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-

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-

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-

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

PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island waters-

PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island-



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. South to southwest winds will spread east across the Bering 

Sea through Wednesday, causing the ice pack to retreat up to 20 nm. 

Behind the low, northerly to westerly winds will return and the ice 

pack will advance to the south and east 40 to 50 nm through 

Saturday. 



-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.



&&

Schreck