738
FZAK80 PAFC 032234
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
234 PM AKDT Friday 3 October 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 8 October 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.

SYNOPSIS...High pressure over the Chukchi Sea spreads eastward
across the Beaufort Sea on Saturday. A low pressure system sets up
over the western Bering Sea into the Chukchi Sea which will swing
fronts over the southern Beaufort Sea through the weekend. Another
low develops over the Bering Sea on Monday and strengthens as it
moves north to the Chukchi Sea and western Beaufort Sea by Wednesday.

-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-
PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 45 to 140 nm-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 45 to 60 nm-
PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 20 to 45 nm-

The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from 71 47N 154 54W
to 71 10N 152 11W to 71 17N 147 36W to 70 39N 147 5W to 70
18N 140 57W and continues east into Canadian waters. The ice edge
is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Chukchi
Sea extends from 40 nm north of Ikiak to 20 nm north of Cape Halkett
to 90 nm northeast of Cape Halkett to 25 nm north of Flaxman Island
to 35 nm north 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. New ice has developed along protected areas of
the coast. Growth will continue through Saturday then a front and
stronger easterly/northeasterly winds will likely melt everything
that has developed along the coast. Southerly winds develop on
Tuesday and Wednesday which will continue to inhibit new ice growth
along the coast. Otherwise ice will continue to move west/southwest
5-10 nm a day through Monday while continuing to grow closer to the
pack. Ice will move north on Tuesday and 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-

The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from 71 47N 154 54W
to 72 47N 163 13W to 73 16N 170 28W and continues southwest 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 40 nm north of Ikiak to 145 nm northwest of
Utqiagvik to 240 nm northwest of Wainwright and continues southwest
into Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light northerly winds continue through Saturday
before turning moderate easterly on Sunday and then again on
Tuesday. By Wednesday,  a low centered over the Chukchi Sea will
bring strong southwesterly winds along the NW AK coast and
northeasterly winds over the northern Chukchi. Expect new ice to
continue to grow out from the ice edge through Saturday, then melt
during the periods of easterly winds.

&&
Fenrich