295
FZAK80 PAFC 202301
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
301 PM AKDT Wednesday 20 August 2025

FORECAST VALID...Monday 25 August 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High

SYNOPSIS...A low over the Chukchi Sea will track northeast across
the Beaufort Sea and into the high Arctic by Thursday. High pressure
will then build over the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas on Friday.
Another low tracks across the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas on Saturday
with high pressure building across the Chukchi Sea again on Sunday
and the Beaufort Sea on Monday. Later on Monday, a low pressure
system over the Bering Sea tracks north to the Bering Strait.

-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 70 8N 144
52W to 70 13N 143 36W to 70 27N 140 47W to 69 51N 138 14W and
continues east into Canadian waters. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Beaufort
Sea extends from 25 nm west of Kaktovik to 5 nm north of Kaktovik to
45 nm north of Demarcation Point to 60 nm northeast of Demarcation
Point and continues east into Canadian waters. The ice edge is open
water.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Westerly to southerly winds will persist through
the forecast period. Overall, expect sea ice to continue melting and
for ice free and open water areas near the coast to continue
expanding especially during periods of southerly winds.

-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 Smith Bay to
71 32N 152 51W to 71 20N 157 1W to 71 8N 159 59W to 72 10N
165 9W to 71 36N 168 41W to 72 39N 172 7W and continues into
Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Chukchi
Sea extends from near Smith Bay to 75 nm northeast of Utqiagvik to 5
nm northwest of Utqiagvik to 30 nm north of Wainwright to 130 nm
north-northwest of Wainwright to 170 nm northwest of Wainwright to
245 nm northwest of Wainwright and continues into Russian waters.
The ice edge is open water.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Southerly winds will briefly become
northwesterly on Thursday before shifting westerly from Thursday
night through Friday. On Saturday, northerly winds develop and then
become westerly again on Sunday and Monday. Overall, expect the ice
pack to drift generally to the east during the forecast period
(except on Saturday when winds are northerly), with continued
gradual melting.

&&
Fenrich