593
FZAK80 PAFC 182311
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
311 PM AKDT Monday 18 August 2025

FORECAST VALID...Saturday 23 August 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High

SYNOPSIS...A low over the northwestern Chukchi Sea will track east
into the northern Beaufort Sea through Tuesday. Another low will
track north from the Bering Strait region toward the high Arctic
Wednesday and Thursday and will remain over the high Arctic through
Saturday.

-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 2N 145
12W to 70 26N 145 34W to 70 38N 142 39W to 70 2N 139 11W 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 40 nm east of Flaxman Island to 55 nm northeast of
Flaxman Island to 35 nm north-northeast of Kaktovik to 45 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 24N 156 25W to 71 7N 160 16W to 72 3N 163 23W to 72 18N
166 52W to 71 11N 171 25W 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 5 nm northwest of Point Barrow to
30 nm north of Wainwright to 100 nm north-northwest of Wainwright to
170 nm northwest of Wainwright to 225 nm west-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. Westerly to southerly winds will persist through
Wednesday before northerly winds briefly move in Thursday. Westerly
winds return Thursday night and persist through Saturday. Overall,
expect the ice pack to drift to the east and northeast through the
forecast period, with continued gradual melting.

&&
Schreck