FZAK80 PAFC 212144
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 
143 PM AKDT Monday 21 October 2024

FORECAST VALID...Saturday 26 October 2024

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate

SYNOPSIS...A low will move east across the southern Beaufort Sea 
through Wednesday. High pressure will then build over the Chukchi 
Sea as another low move southeast across the Beaufort Sea Thursday 
through Saturday. Over the Bering Sea, a series of lows will move 
east across the southern Bering Sea through Saturday.

The main ice edge extends from Russian waters to 73 25’N 166 35’W to 
74 27’N 172 4’W to 75 9’N 160 5’W to 74 6’N 141 37’W and continues 
east in Canadian waters. The ice edge is open water. There is also 
new sea ice within protected bays, in very shallow waters along the 
coast, and behind barrier islands along the north and west coast of 
Alaska as far south as northern Norton Sound. 

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 
Russian waters to 210 nm northwest of Point Barrow to 315 nm 
northwest of Point Barrow to 240 nm north-northwest of Point Barrow 
to 250 nm north of Demarcation Point and continues east into 
Canadian waters. The ice edge is open water. There is also new sea 
ice within protected bays, in very shallow waters along the coast, 
and behind barrier islands along the north and west coast of Alaska 
as far south as northern Norton Sound.  

-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-
PKZ815-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point out to 15 nm-

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 
confidence is moderate. Northerly to westerly winds return over most 
of the ice pack Tuesday through Saturday. Sea ice will advance to 
the southeast 30 to 40 nm through Saturday. Sea ice along the north 
coast of Alaska will continue to form and thicken through Saturday, 
and may extend beyond barrier islands by the end of the forecast 
period. 

-CHUKCHI SEA-

PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ809-Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 nm-
PKZ812-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 nm-
PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 
confidence is high. Northwest winds and colder air will return on 
Tuesday and will allow additional new sea ice to form along the west 
coast of Alaska through Saturday. Expect the main pack ice edge to 
advance 40 to 50 nm southeast through Saturday. New sea ice will 
also continue to form and thicken within the shallow and protected 
areas of the Alaska coastline through the forecast period. 

-BERING SEA-

PKZ802-Dall Point to Kwikpak Pass out to 15 nm-
PKZ803-Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens out to 15 nm-
PKZ804-Cape Stephens to Moses Point out to 15 nm-
PKZ805-Moses Point to Sledge Island out to 15 nm-

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence 
is high. New sea ice will form again as far south as the Kuskokwim 
River Delta as colder air returns to the northern Bering Sea.  

&& 
Schreck