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FZAK80 PAFC 311612 CCA

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

251 PM AKDT Wednesday 30 August 2023



FORECAST VALID...Monday 4 September 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high.



SYNOPSIS...High pressure will generally remain over the Beaufort Sea 

through Sunday and begin to move off to the east on Monday as a low 

moves north into the Chukchi Sea and western Beaufort 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 in the Beaufort Sea extends from 75 39'N 156 39'W 

to 76 36'N 143 55'W to 74 26'N 151 57'W to 73 22'N 144 28'W to 72 

45'N 154 27'W to 70 50'N 139 58'W and continues E in Canadian 

waters. An area of brash ice remains along the coast from Prudhoe 

Bay to near Kaktovik, against the north side of the barrier islands.



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

Sea extends from 250 nm N of Point Barrow to 355 nm NE of Point 

Barrow to 185 nm NE of Point Barrow to 190 nm N of Prudhoe Bay to 85 

nm NE of Point Barrow to 70 nm N of Demarcation Point and continues 

E in Canadian waters. An area of brash ice remains along the coast 

from Prudhoe Bay to near Kaktovik, against the north side of the 

barrier islands. 



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

confidence is high. Winds will generally be easterly through Monday. 

The ice pack is expected to move westward 20 to 30 nm through Monday 

and will continue to melt through the forecast period. The ice along 

the coast between Prudhoe Bay and Kaktovik will move to the west 10 

to 20 nm, but likely melt completely this week based on current 

trends.



-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 75 39'N 156 39'W 

to 74 28'N 164 35'W to 72 5'N 159 14'W to 72 9'N 171 25'W and 

continues in Russian waters. 



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

Sea extends from 250 nm N of Point Barrow to 220 nm NW of Point 

Barrow to 65 nm NW of Point Barrow to 275 nm W of Point Barrow and 

continues in Russian waters.



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

confidence is high. Winds will be southeasterly through Thursday, 

then becoming light and variable Friday through Saturday. On Monday, 

winds over the southern part of the ice pack will be westerly and 

winds north of 75N will be easterly. The ice pack will generally 

move with local currents through Saturday, then the southern part of 

the ice pack will drift east up to 20 nm Sunday and Monday. Sea ice 

will continue to gradually melt through the forecast period as well.



&&

Schreck