700
FZAK80 PAFC 112308
ICEAFC
SEA ICE FORECAST FOR WESTERN AND ARCTIC ALASKAN COASTAL WATERS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - ALASKA SEA ICE PROGRAM
208 PM AKDT MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2025
FORECAST VALID...SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2025
ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...HIGH
SYNOPSIS...A LOW OVER THE CHUKCHI SEA AND ASSOCIATED FRONT DRAPED
SOUTHWARD ALONG THE NORTHWEST COAST WILL LINGER THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
THE LOW SHIFTS WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN SIBERIAN SEA WHILE THE
FRONT DISSIPATES OVER THE MAINLAND. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER ALASKA
WATERS OF THE BEAUFORT AND CHUKCHI SEAS THROUGH SATURDAY.
-BEAUFORT SEA-
PKZ505-CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
PKZ510-EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
ICE COVERED.
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-
PKZ859-POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT FROM 15 TO 75 NM-
PKZ860-CAPE HALKETT TO FLAXMAN ISLAND FROM 15 TO 80 NM-
PKZ861-FLAXMAN ISLAND TO DEMARCATION POINT FROM 15 TO 75 NM-
THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE BEAUFORT SEA EXTENDS FROM NEAR 69 58’N 145W
TO 70 35’N 145W TO 70 20’N 140 38’W AND CONTINUES INTO CANADIAN
WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FROM LAND-BASED POINTS IN ALASKA, THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE BEAUFORT
SEA EXTENDS FROM 30 NM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF KAKTOVIK TO 35 NM NORTHWEST
OF KAKTOVIK TO 40 NM NORTH OF DEMARCATION POINT AND CONTINUES INTO
CANADIAN WATERS.
FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 5)...FORECAST
CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. LIGHT SOUTHERLY WINDS DEVELOP THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON WHICH WILL PUSH THE ICE EDGE BACK TO THE NORTH 10-20 NM.
LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS DEVELOP WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
OVERALL, EXPECT SEA ICE TO CONTINUE MELTING AND FOR ICE FREE AND
OPEN WATER AREAS NEAR THE COAST TO CONTINUE EXPANDING.
-CHUKCHI SEA-
PKZ500-WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
PKZ505-CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
ICE COVERED.
PKZ813-POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT OUT TO 15 NM-
PKZ858-CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN FROM 15 TO 85 NM-
PKZ859-POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT FROM 15 TO 75 NM-
THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE CHUKCHI SEA EXTENDS FROM NEAR IKIAK TO 71
27’N 157 15’W TO 70 48’N 160 2’W TO 71 14’N 165 41’W TO 71 59”N 169
24’W AND CONTINUES WEST IN RUSSIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN
WATER. THERE IS AN AREA OF MARGINAL ICE NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL
BORDER BETWEEN 69 47’N AND 70 46’N.
FROM LAND-BASED POINTS IN ALASKA, THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE CHUKCHI
SEA EXTENDS FROM NEAR IKIAK TO 13 NM NORTHWEST OF UTQIAGVIK TO 9 NM
NORTH OF WAINWRIGHT TO 115 NM WEST OF WAINWRIGHT TO 115 NM NORTHWEST
OF WAINWRIGHT AND CONTINUES WEST INTO RUSSIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE
IS OPEN WATER. THERE IS AN AREA OF MARGINAL ICE NEAR THE
INTERNATIONAL BORDER 120 NM WEST OF ICE CAPE.
FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 5)...FORECAST
CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. LIGHT NORTHWESTWERLY WINDS WILL BECOME
SOUTHWESTERLY BY MID-WEEK THEN SOUTHEASTERLY ON SATURDAY. EXPECT THE
ICE EDGE TO RETREAT 10-20 NM THROUGH THE WEEK ALONG WITH GENERALLY
THINNING AND MELTING OF THE REMAINING ICE.
LAWSON
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