346
FZAK80 PAFC 042256
ICEAFC
SEA ICE FORECAST FOR WESTERN AND ARCTIC ALASKAN COASTAL WATERS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - ALASKA SEA ICE PROGRAM
256 PM AKDT MONDAY 4 AUGUST 2025
FORECAST VALID...SATURDAY 9 AUGUST 2025
ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...MODERATE
SYNOPSIS...HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE CHUKCHI AND BEAUFORT SEAS
THROUGH THURSDAY. A LOW DROPS SOUTHWARD FROM THE POLE THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY, THEN WEAKENS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
-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 70 10’N 145
52’W TO 70 43’N 144 14’W TO 70 16’N 141W AND CONTINUES INTO CANADIAN
WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FROM LAND-BASED POINTS IN ALASKA, THE MAIN ICE EDGE EXTENDS FROM 45
NM WEST OF KAKTOVIK TO 40 NM NORTHWEST OF KAKTOVIK TO 40 NM NORTH OF
DEMARCATION POINT AND CONTINUES IN CANADIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS
OPEN WATER.
FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 5)...FORECAST
CONFIDENCE IS MODERATE. WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT AND VARIABLE THROUGH
EARLY THURSDAY. EXPECT ICE TO MAINLY MOVE WITH LOCAL TIDES AND
CURRENTS AND DRIFT 5-10 NM/DAY WITH THE BEAUFORT GYRE. THE LOW
PRESSURE DROPPING INTO THE AREA WILL BRING SOME LIGHT TO MODERATE
WESTERLY WINDS WHICH WILL COUNTERACT THIS MOVEMENT OVER THE WEEKEND.
EXPECT THE ICE FREE AREA FROM THE MACKENZIE RIVER DELTA TO CONTINUE
TO PUSH WESTWARD IN ALASKA WATERS. OVERALL EXPECT CONTINUED SLOW
MELT OF THE EXISTING ICE.
-CHUKCHI SEA-
PKZ500-WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
PKZ505-CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
PKZ813-POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT OUT TO 15 NM-
PKZ859-POINT FRANKLIN TO CAPE HALKETT FROM 15 TO 75 NM-
ICE COVERED.
PKZ858-CAPE BEAUFORT TO POINT FRANKLIN FROM 15 TO 85 NM-
THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE CHUKCHI SEA EXTENDS FROM NEAR UTQIAGVIK TO
70 52’N 167 2’W TO 69 55’N 167 58’W AND CONTINUES WEST IN RUSSIAN
WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FROM LAND-BASED POINTS IN ALASKA, THE MAIN ICE EDGE EXTENDS FROM
NEAR UTQIAGVIK TO 190 NM WEST-SOUTHWEST OF UTQIAGVIK TO 230 NM WEST
OF UTQIAGVIK AND CONTINUES INTO RUSSIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN
WATER.
FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 5)...FORECAST
CONFIDENCE IS HIGH. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH
THURSDAY. EXPECT ICE TO MOVE WITH LOCAL TIDES AND CURRENTS WHILE
SLOWLY MELTING. FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND, LIGHT NORTHWESTERLY WINDS
WILL BRING THE ICE EDGE SOUTHWARD 10-15 NM/DAY.
LAWSON
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