####018002991####
FZAK80 PAFC 110532 CCA

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

300 PM AKDT Wednesday 9 August 2023



FORECAST VALID...Monday 14 August 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High.



SYNOPSIS...High pressure will remain over the Chukchi and Beaufort 

Seas through Monday while weak low pressure stretches from the 

Mainland through the Bering Sea. 



-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-

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

PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 to 80 NM-



The main ice edge extends from near Point Barrow through Cape 

Halkett to 70 12'N 145 54'W to 71 38'N 149 19'W to 72 44'N 142 51'W 

to 70 51'N 140 14'W and continues northeast in Canadian waters. 



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

near Point Barrow to near Cape Halkett to 45 nm west of Kaktovik to 

55 nm north of Oliktok Point to 150 nm north of Kaktovik to 70 nm 

north of Demarcation Point and continues northeast in Canadian 

waters.  



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

confidence is high. Northeasterly winds will continue to push 

remaining ice in the southern Beaufort toward the coast while 

continuing to melt, though ice free and open water in navigational 

waters will likely see some low concentration marginal ice before it 

melts. The remaining area of higher concentration ice north of 

Prudhoe Bay will move much closer to the coast, potentially closing 

off navigation waters briefly. Otherwise expect slow melting of the 

pack and general movement dominated by tides and currents. 



-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 extends from near 71 23'N 156 41'W to 70 56'N 160W 

to 71 52'N 169 44'W to 71 30'N 173 32'W to 66 58'N 172 9'W. 



From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 5 

nm north of Utqiagvik to 15 nm north of Wainwright to 190 nm 

northwest of Wainwright to 230 nm west-northwest of Icy Cape to 100 

nm northwest of Diomede.



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

confidence is high. High pressure and continued warmer air mass will 

continue melting of existing ice. The ice edge in the northeast 

Chukchi Sea off the northwest coast of Alaska will move southwest 10 

to 20 nm into warmer waters and melt. Otherwise expect predominant 

movement to be with tides and currents while continuing to thin. 

Much of the remaining pack ice (8 tenths or greater) will likely 

drop into marginal ice zone conditions (less than 8 tenths) by 

Monday. 



&&

Lawson