####018003304####
FZAK80 PAFC 252122

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

122 AKDT Friday 25 August 2023



FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 30 August 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.



SYNOPSIS...High pressure over the Beaufort Sea will move off to the 

east through Sunday. A weak low will then move north over the 

Beaufort Sea Monday through Wednesday. Another weak low over the 

western Chukchi Sea will move northeast Monday through Wednesday. 



-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 in the Beaufort Sea extends from 74 42'N 155 58'W 

to 70 43'N 138 22'W and continues west in Canadian waters. There is 

also an area of sea ice along the coast between Point Barrow and 

north of Smith Bay as well as along the coast from Prudhoe Bay to 

near Kaktovik.



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

Sea extends from 200 nm N of Point Barrow to 85 nm NE of Demarcation 

Point and continues east in Canadian waters. There is also an area 

of sea ice along the coast between Point Barrow and north of Smith 

Bay as well as along the coast from Prudhoe Bay to near Kaktovik.



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

confidence is moderate. Northeasterly to easterly winds will become 

westerly Monday, then southerly late Tuesday through Wednesday. 

Expect the remaining ice between Cape Halkett and Flaxman Island to 

continue to be back toward the coast through Monday, then pushed 

east up to 20 nm Tuesday and Wednesday. Expect the ice edge in the 

High Arctic to move west through Monday, then begin to move east 

Tuesday and Wednesday as the low passes by. Overall, the ice edge is 

expected to retreat 20 to 30 nm to the north through Wednesday due 

to melting.



-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 in the Chukchi Sea extends from 74 42'N 155 58'W 

to 74 49'N 162 19'W to 71 10'N 158 9'W to 71 46'N 173 40'W and 

continues west in Russian waters. 



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

Sea extends from 200 nm N of Point Barrow to 222 nm NW of Point 

Barrow to 55 nm NW of Point Barrow to 240 nm NW of Point Hope and 

continues west in Russian waters. There is also an area of sea ice 

offshore between Peard Bay and Utqiagvik.



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

confidence is moderate. Northerly winds will persist through Sunday, 

then become light and variable Monday through Wednesday. Overall, 

the ice edge will continue to advance to the south and east 10 to 20 

nm through Sunday while continuing to thin and melt. Sea ice will 

then generally move with the local currents Monday through 

Wednesday, and melting will likely slow down. 



&& 

Schreck