466
FZAK80 PAFC 112326
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
326 PM AKDT Friday 11 July 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 16 July 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High

SYNOPSIS...High pressure will move east across the Chukchi and
Beaufort Seas through Sunday. A low spreads northeastward across the
Chukchi Sea before dissipating Monday. High pressure rebuilds over
the Beaufort Sea Monday through Wednesday while another low moves
into the Chukchi Sea Tuesday and Wednesday.

-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-

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light winds near the Alaska coast on Saturday
will become southerly Sunday and Monday. Easterly winds will develop
near the coast on Tuesday and persist through Wednesday. Farther
offshore, west winds will become southwesterly to southerly by
Monday, then westerly again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sea ice near
the coast will move with local tides and currents Saturday, then
will drift north Sunday and Monday. Some westward movement of the
ice pack is expected Tuesday and Wednesday, up to 10 nm/day. The
offshore ice pack will drift east to northeast through Wednesday.

-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.

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-
PKZ857-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort from 15 to 85 nm-
PKZ858-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 nm-

The main ice edge extends from near Point Hope to 69 18N 170 45W
and continues west into Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Point Hope to 100 nm northwest of Point Hope and continues west
into Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Easterly winds will become southerly by Monday
across the Chukchi Sea. Southerly to southeasterly winds will then
persist through Wednesday. Sea ice near Cape Lisburne will quickly
melt and those navigational waters are expected to be sea ice free
by Wednesday. The main ice pack from near Icy Cape north will
generally drift north to northwest through the forecast period, with
some modest melting along the ice edge. A polynya will likely
develop off the coast from Wainwright to Point Barrow.

&&
Schreck