####018002385####
FZAK80 PAFC 271951

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

1200 PM AKDT Wednesday 27 September 2023



FORECAST VALID...Monday 2 October 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high.



SYNOPSIS...A low moves northeast across the Chukchi Sea and western 

Beaufort Sea late Wednesday through Saturday. A second low may form 

north of the Bering Straight on Saturday, which will move towards 

the north slope through the weekend.





-BEAUFORT SEA-



The main ice edge in the Beaufort Sea extends from 74 17'N 153 38'W 

to 73 50'N 144 28'W and continues east in Canadian waters. The ice 

edge is open water.



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

Sea extends from 180 nm north of Point Barrow to 215 nm north of 

Prudhoe Bay and continues east in Canadian waters. The ice edge is 

open water.



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

confidence is moderate. Moderate winds from the south are expected 

Wednesday through Friday. As the second low pressure tracks from the 

Chukchi to Beaufort, expect winds to rotate around the low, which 

may result in winds from the west/northwest during the weekend. 

Expect new sea ice to continue forming within and near the ice pack, 

though the overall ice edge will likely not change significantly.







-CHUKCHI SEA-



The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from 75 38'N 157 2'W to 

76 40'N 174 20'W to 72 46'N 174 13'W and continues west in Russian 

waters. The ice edge is open water.



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

Sea extends from 245 nm north of Point Barrow to 415 nm northwest of 

Point Barrow to 325 nm west of Point Barrow and continues in Russian 

waters. The ice edge is open water.



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

confidence is moderate. Moderate winds from the south are expected 

through Friday. As the second low pressure tracks from the Chukchi 

to Beaufort, expect winds to rotate around the low, which may result 

in winds from the west during the weekend. Moderate winds may hinder 

new sea ice growth within and near the ice pack, thus the overall 

ice edge will likely not change significantly.





&& 

Tinker