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FZAK80 PAFC 012004

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

1205 PM AKDT Friday 1 September 2023



FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 6 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 gale-

force low moves north into the Chukchi Sea and western Beaufort Sea. 

Expect this low pressure to weaken 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 75 39'N 156 39'W 

to 76 36'N 143 55'W to 74 26'N 151 57'W to 73 27'N 144 28'W to 72 

50'N 136 38'W to 72 45'N 154 27'W to 71 10'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 200 nm N of Prudhoe Bay to 

255 nm NE of Prudhoe Bay to 85 nm NE of Point Barrow to 95 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 the 

forecast period, with an increase in wind speed on Sunday. Winds may 

shift from the east on Monday. The ice pack is expected to move 

westward 20 to 30 nm through Sunday and will melt at a faster rate 

during this time. The ice along the coast between Prudhoe Bay and 

Kaktovik will move to the west 10 to 20 nm and is likely to melt 

completely this weekend.





-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 10'N 174 28'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 325 nm W of Point Barrow and 

continues in Russian waters.



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

confidence is high. Winds over the southern part of the ice pack 

Monday will be westerly and winds north of 75N will be easterly. The 

southern part of the ice pack will drift east up to 20 nm on Sunday 

and Monday. As the low pressure enters the area along the sea ice 

Monday through Wednesday, expect an increase in sea ice movement and 

melt.





&&

Tinker