####018004684####
FZAK80 PAFC 242314

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

313 PM AKDT Wednesday 24 April 2024



FORECAST VALID...Monday 29 April 2024



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high.



SYNOPSIS...A large and deep low will linger and weaken over the 

Bering through Friday before dropping into the Gulf. An additional 

low will develop near Anadyr on Saturday and move near the western 

Aleutians on Monday. High pressure will remain over the high Arctic 

through Monday.



The main ice edge extends from near Cape Newenham to 57 58’N 170 

49’W to 59 52’N 175 8’W to 60 34’N 179 20’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 Cape Newenham to 65 nm northwest of Saint Paul to 85 nm 

southwest of Saint Matthew Island to 320 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 remain out of the northeast, keeping 

the 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 remain out of the north and east. 

Polynyas will continue to open from Utqiagvik through Point Hope.



-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. Easterly winds will lighten and turn northerly over the 

weekend. Generally ice will move with tides and currents through 

Sunday. On Monday, another front enters the Bering Sea from the 

south which will bring easterly winds back to much of the Bering 

Sea. Expect polynyas to continue to open along west facing 

coastlines. Overall the ice edge will retreat 10 to 20 nm while 

continuing to thin. 

 



-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. 



&&

Lawson