####018005175#### FZAK80 PAFC 192225 ICEAFC Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 224 PM AKDT Thursday 19 April 2024 FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 24 April 2024 ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high. SYNOPSIS...A low over the southeast Bering Sea will weaken and move off to the southeast northeast through Saturday. Another stronger low will form over the southwest Bering Sea and remain nearly stationary through Wednesday. The main ice edge extends from near Dillingham to 57 53’N 159 8’W to 58 3’N 170W to 59 54’N 173 47’W to 60 34’N 179 15’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 Dillingham to 60 nm west of Egegik to 57 nm north of Saint Paul to 180 nm north west of Saint Paul to 280 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 Monday, then winds will be light and variable as high pressure builds over the Arctic. The ice pack will slowly move to the east through Monday, then will move with the local tides and currents. -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 northerly through Monday, then light and variable as high pressure builds over the Arctic. The ice pack will generally move east to south and compact against the Alaska coastline, however a polynya may form off the Cape Krusenstern to Point Hope coastline when winds are northerly. -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. The northern Bering Sea will see northerly to easterly winds through Wednesday, while the southern Bering Sea will see variable winds through Saturday then southerly to easterly winds overall Sunday through Wednesday. From Saint Lawrence Island north, expect the ice pack to drift south 30 to 40 nm and polynyas to form off the southern and western sides of the Seward Peninsula and Saint Lawrence Island. South of Saint Lawrence Island, the ice pack will drift north and west 30 to 40 nm and polynyas will form off the west- facing coastlines. -COOK INLET- PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island- FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is high. River ice may move south into upper Cook Inlet via the Knik River. Otherwise, Cook Inlet is expected to remain largely sea ice free. && Schreck