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FZAK80 PAFC 212201

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

200 PM AKDT Monday 21 August 2023



FORECAST VALID...Saturday 26 August 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.



SYNOPSIS...A low pressure remains in the High Arctic through 

Wednesday. In the Bering Sea, a low pressure forms and may move 

north towards NW Alaska on Friday.







-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 71 29'N 169 13'W to 72 7'N 162 24'W 

to 70 59'N 162 12'W to 71 9'N 157 1'W to 70 1'N 144 37'W to 71 21'N 

148 31'W to 74 11'N 160 21'W to 72 5'N 147 3'W and continues west in 

Canadian waters.



From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 175 

nm W of Wainwright to 85 nm NW of Wainwright to 45 nm W of 

Wainwright to 8 nm S of Utqiagvik to 20 nm S of Kaktovik to 55 nm N 

of Oliktok Point to 175 nm NW of Point Barrow to 155 nm N of Oliktok 

Point and continues west in Canadian waters.



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

confidence is moderate. Through Wednesday, expect 

south/southwesterly winds with an increase in speed on Wednesday. 

During this period, expect the remaining ice between Cape Halkett 

and Flaxman Island to drift to the north 15 to 25 nm while melting. 

On Thursday, winds shift from the north/northeast, so expect that 

remaining ice to be pushed back toward the coast. Overall expect the 

main ice edge to retreat 20 to 30 nm through Saturday.







-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 moderate. Winds shift from the west/southwest and 

increase in speed through the day Tuesday. During this time, expect 

the remaining ice off the northwest coast of Alaska to continue to 

push into navigational waters around Utqiagvik. Winds then relax and 

shift from the northeast before increasing in speed again late 

Thursday. This will push ice southward and toward the ice edge, 

which may expand during this time. Overall, the ice edge may advance 

to the south and east 10 to 20 nm through Saturday while continuing 

to melt. Both periods of moderate to strong winds will encourage ice 

concentrations to decrease.







&& 

Tinker