504
FZAK80 PAFC 112305
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
305 PM AKDT Friday 11 September 2026


FORECAST VALIDWednesday 16 September 2026


ANALYSIS CONFIDENCEHigh.


SYNOPSIS...A strong low forms in the southern Chukchi on Friday and
tracks northeastward across the Beaufort Sea through Sunday. A
second low builds in the High Arctic and persists over the northern
Beaufort through Wednesday. Warm southwesterly winds will contribute
to continued melting.


-BEAUFORT SEA-


PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ510-Eastern US Arctic Offshore-
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-

Ice covered.

PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

Ice free.

The main ice edge in Alaska waters extends from near 70 31`N 149
52`W to 70 56`N 152 39`W to 71 17`N 147 24`W to 71 58`N 156 36`W to
73 8`N 159 30`W to 71 28`N 163 5`W to 74 55`N 167 19`W to 72 26`N
174 52`W to 67 44`N 174 5`W. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main edge extends from near
Oliktok Point to 10 nm west-northwest of Cape Halkett to 55 nm north
of Prudhoe Bay to 35 nm north of Utqiagvik to 115 nm north-northwest
of Utqiagvik to 120 nm west of Utqiagvik to 280 nm north-northwest
of Icy Cape to 270 nm northwest of Icy Cape to 165 nm west of Point
Hope. The ice edge is open water.




FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high.

Low end gales from the south and southwest will briefly warm air
temperatures up to the low 50s and push ice away from the Arctic
coast. Winds shift more westerly on Sunday. Expect the ice edge in
the Cape Halkett area to retreat to the east 10 to 20 nm/day through
Monday.


-CHUKCHI SEA-


PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ505-Central 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-
PKZ856-Wales to Cape Thompson greater than 15 nm-
PKZ857-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort from 15 to 85 nm-
PKZ858-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 nm-
PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 nm-

Ice free.


FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high.

There are patches of very open brash ice lingering off of the
northwest Alaska coastline. A much warmer air mass and southwesterly
winds approaching low end gales will likely melt this ice through
the weekend. Winds shift westerly over the remaining ice by Tuesday.
Alaska waters will likely be close to ice free by Wednesday.




-BERING SEA-


PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-
PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island
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-
KZ804-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-
PKZ850-Etolin Strait to Kwemeluk Pass from 15 to 90 nm-
PKZ852-Norton Sound greater than 15 nm-
PKZ853-Kwemeluk Pass to Kwikpak Pass from 15 to 90 nm-
PKZ760-Bristol Bay greater than 15 nm-
PKZ761-Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 nm-
PKZ762-Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 nm-
PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-
PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island Waters-
PKZ816-South Side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ817-North Side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ851-Southwest of Saint Lawrence Island from 15 to 100 nm-
PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-


Ice free.




FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is high.




-COOK INLET-


PKZ730-West of Barren Islands including Kamishak Bay-
PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
PZK741-Kachemak Bay-
PKZ742-Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-


Ice free.




FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is
high.




&&

Jewell