094
FZAK80 PAFC 072355
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
325 PM AKDT Friday 7 November 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 12 November 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.

SYNOPSISAn area of low pressure lifts northward from the Arctic
coast and  into the High Arctic Friday. High pressure moves from the
Arctic mainland to west of the Arctic Archipelago. Easterly zonal
flow persists across the Arctic coast through the forecast period.

-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 45 to 80 nm-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 45 to 80 nm-
PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 45 to 80 nm-

The main ice edge in the Beaufort Sea extends from 72 12N 154 54W
to 71 39N 151 25W to 70 55N 147 01W  to 70 25N 14328W to 70
14N 143 38W to 70 39N 149 52W. The ice edge is open water. There
is also ice along the coast from Ikiak to Demarcation Point.


From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Beaufort
Sea extends from 63 nm north of Ikiak to 61 nm north of Harrison Bay
to 40 nm north of Flaxman Island, to 16 nm north of Kaktovik, to 6
nm north of Kaktovik, to 7 nm north of Oliktok Point. The ice edge
is open water. There is also ice along the coast from Ikiak to
Demarcation Point.


FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Persistent southwesterly offshore flow will
weaken Saturday morning Weak flow transitions to northeasterly by
Saturday night then easterly flow persists through the remainder of
the forecast period. Expect sea ice to begin drifting west about 5-
12 nm per day. Sea ice growth should become favorable as winds
diminish.


-CHUKCHI SEA-

PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

Ice covered.

PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ807-Wales to Cape Espenberg out to 15 nm-
PKZ808-Cape Espenberg to Motherwood Point out to 10 nm-
PKZ809-Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 nm-
PKZ810-Cape Krusenstern to Cape Thompson out to 15 nm-
PKZ811-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort out to 15 nm-
PKZ812-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 nm-
PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-
PKZ855- Kotzebue Sound greater than 10 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 72 12N 154 54W
to 72 39N 158 29W to 71 26N 164 13W to 68 01N 171 11 E and
continues west into Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.
There is also ice along the coast from Cape Lisburne through the
North Slope, as well as within Kotzebue Sound.


From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Chukchi
Sea extends from 63 nm north of Ikiak to 84 nm northwest of
Utqiagvik to 105 nm west of Point Franklin to 100 nm west of Point
Hope and continues west into Russian waters. The ice edge is open
water. There is also ice along the coast from Cape Lisburne through
the North Slope, as well as within Kotzebue Sound.


FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is moderate. A low is lifting northward from the Arctic
coast. Weak southerly flow becomes light and variable by Saturday,
and easterly by Sunday. Due to persistent easterly zonal flow,
expect ice along the Russian coast to retreat westward 1-2 nm per
day.  Expect slow ice growth through the forecast period.


-BERING SEA-

PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-
PKZ801-Etolin Strait to Dall Point out to 15 nm-
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-
PKZ806-Sledge Island to Wales out to 15 nm-

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is moderate. Winds will become light and variable Friday night, then
southeasterly winds develop Saturday through Monday. On Saturday a
low over Kamchatka moves into the western Bering then stalls and
weakens through the forecast period. Easterly to northeasterly winds
will persist. Sea ice lingers along the Y-K Delta coast as well as
along portions of the Norton Sound coast. Expect sea ice to linger
within protected areas and slow sea ice growth in the vicinity of
Norton Sound during the forecast period.

&&
Riedel