312
FZAK80 PAFC 292218
ICEAFC
SEA ICE FORECAST FOR WESTERN AND ARCTIC ALASKAN COASTAL WATERS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - ALASKA SEA ICE PROGRAM
218 PM AKDT FRIDAY 29 AUGUST 2025
FORECAST VALID...WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2025
ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...HIGH TO MODERATE
SYNOPSIS...A LOW PRESSURE OVER THE MACKENZIE RIVER DELTA WILL MOVE
EAST AND WEAKEN OVER THE CANADIAN ARCHIPELAGO THROUGH THE WEEKEND. A
LOW AND FRONT FROM THE BERING SEA WILL MOVE SOUTH TO NORTH THROUGH
CHUKCHI AND BEAUFORT SEAS ON MONDAY.
-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-
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 DEMARCATION
POINT TO 70 4’N 141 17’W TO 70 5’N 140 25’W AND CONTINUES EAST INTO
CANADIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE ALSO RUNS FROM OLIKTOK POINT TO 71
43’N 154 53'W. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FROM LAND-BASED POINTS IN ALASKA, THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE BEAUFORT
SEA EXTENDS FROM NEAR DEMARCATION POINT TO 22 NM NORTHWEST OF
DEMARCATION POINT TO 28 NM NORTH OF DEMARCATION POINT AND CONTINUES
EAST IN CANADIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE ALSO RUNS FROM OLIKTOK POINT
TO 35 NM NORTHEAST OF POINT BARROW. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 5)...FORECAST
CONFIDENCE IS MODERATE. WINDS WILL TRANSITION FROM LIGHT TO MODERATE
NORTHEASTERLY LATE FRIDAY TO LIGHT WESTERLY ON SATURDAY. FOR THE
WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK, LIGHT SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL PERSIST.
ICE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE WESTWARD ANOTHER 10 NM THROUGH SATURDAY
BEFORE MOVING GENERALLY WITH TIDES AND CURRENTS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
THERE MAY BE A SLIGHT DRIFT/RETREAT NORTHWARD 5-10 NM. OTHERWISE
CONTINUED MELT AND THINNING OF REMAINING ICE.
-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 71 27’N 154
53’W TO 70 59’N 159 30’W TO 71 7’N 160 27’W TO 71 42’N 160 22’W TO
71 25’N 163 51’W TO 72 1’N 163 59’W TO 72 8’N 169 3’W AND CONTINUES
IN RUSSIAN WATER. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FROM LAND-BASED POINTS IN ALASKA, THE MAIN ICE EDGE IN THE CHUKCHI
SEA EXTENDS FROM 30 NM EAST-NORTHEAST OF POINT BARROW TO 15 NM WEST
OF POINT FRANKLIN TO 35 NM WEST OF POINT FRANKLIN TO 55 NM NORTHWEST
OF POINT FRANKLIN TO 100 NM WEST OF POINT FRANKLIN TO 110 NM WEST-
NORTHWEST OF POINT FRANKLIN TO 200 NM WEST OF POINT FRANKLIN AND
CONTINUES INTO RUSSIAN WATERS. THE ICE EDGE IS OPEN WATER.
FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 5)...FORECAST
CONFIDENCE IS MODERATE. LIGHTER SOUTHERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY WILL
DEVELOP OVER THE WEEKEND AND PERSIST THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE ICE
LINGERING NEAR NAVIGATIONAL WATERS BETWEEN WAINWRIGHT AND UTQIAGVIK
WILL LIKELY MELT. OTHERWISE EXPECT A RETREAT OF THE ICE EDGE OF 10-
15 NM WITH GENERAL MELTING WITHIN THE ICE EDGE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
SOME ICE FREE AREAS BEGIN TO APPEAR WITHIN THE ICE EDGE.
LAWSON
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