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FZAK80 PAFC 112230 CCA

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

230 PM AKDT Friday 11 August 2023



FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 16 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. A low pressure may build in the 

High Arctic Monday through the week.

 



-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 66 45'N 171 33'W to 71 27'N 173 18'W 

to 70 56'N 160 20'W to 71 28'N 156 18'W to 70 47'N 152 2'W to 70 

13'N 146 7'W and continues northeast in Canadian waters.



From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 85 

nm NW of Diomede to 230 nm W of Icy Cape to 15 nm NW of Wainwright 

to 6 nm N of Point Barrow to 2 nm E of Cape Halkett to 35 nm NE of 

Prudhoe Bay and continues northeast in Canadian waters.



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

confidence is high. Through Sunday, northeasterly winds will 

continue to push the remaining ice in the southern Beaufort toward 

the coast and will continue to melt. 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 may move closer to the coast, potentially 

closing off navigation waters briefly. On Monday, winds will shift 

from the east, which will encourage the melting of the remaining ice 

north of Prudhoe Bay. 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-





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

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

continue the melting of existing ice. Moderate northeasterly winds 

will encourage the ice edge off the northwest coast of Alaska to 

expand and 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.



&& 

Tinker