####018002351####
FZAK80 PAFC 292326

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

326 PM AKDT Friday 29 September 2023



FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 4 October 2023



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate.



SYNOPSIS...Two lows will pinwheel across the Chukchi Sea and into 

the northern Beaufort Sea through Wednesday. High pressure will 

begin to build over the southern Chukchi Sea Tuesday and Wednesday.



-BEAUFORT SEA-



The main ice edge in the Beaufort Sea extends from 77 9'N 156 59'W 

to 77 25'N 150W to 74 14'N 148 24'W to 73 26'N 138 24'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 330 nm north of Point Barrow to 380 nm north of 

Cape Halkett to 205 nm north-northeast of Cape Halkett to 225 nm 

north of Demarcation Point and continues east in Canadian waters. 

The ice edge is open water.



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

confidence is high. Overall, winds will be southerly through Sunday, 

then variable as a low moves by. Northwest winds and colder air will 

develop Wednesday especially across the western Beaufort Sea. Expect 

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

the overall ice edge will likely not change significantly through 

Wednesday.



-CHUKCHI SEA-



The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from 77 9'N 156 59'W to 

77 19'N 174 11'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 330 nm north of Point Barrow to 430 nm north-

northwest of Point Barrow and continues west in Russian waters. The 

ice edge is open water.



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

confidence is high. Overall, expect westerly to northwesterly winds 

across the Chukchi Sea through Wednesday. Colder air will move south 

across the region Monday through Wednesday, allowing new ice to form 

and thicken within and near the existing ice pack especially where 

winds are less than 15 kt. The overall ice edge will likely not 

change significantly through Wednesday.



&& 

Schreck