430
FZAK80 PAFC 162304
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
304 PM AKDT Friday 16 May 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 21 May 2025.

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High.

SYNOPSIS...Low pressure will persist across the Bering, Chukchi, and
Beaufort Seas through Saturday while high pressure from Russia
gradually builds eastward. High pressure will then persist across
the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas from Monday through Wednesday. High
pressure is generally expected across the Bering Sea beginning
Sunday other than when a low from the North Pacific tracks east
along the Aleutian Chain from Monday through 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-
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-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Easterly winds will become southeasterly on
Saturday, northwesterly to westerly on Sunday, and then
northeasterly again from Monday through Wednesday. Expect sea ice to
drift northwestward through Saturday, easterly on Sunday, and then
southerly back towards the coast from Monday through Wednesday.

-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 covered.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Generally northerly winds will persist through
the forecast period. The large polynya off the northwest coast will
decrease in size as sea ice begins to drift to the south, closing
off the area of open water. Southerly winds will form a polynya off
the coast between Point Hope and Kivalina. Overall, sea ice movement
across the Chukchi Sea should be minimal, with the exception of the
aforementioned polynyas as well as sea ice near the Bering Strait,
where ice has been gradually breaking off from the main ice pack.

-BERING SEA-

PKZ803-Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens out to 15 nm-
PKZ817-North side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-

Ice covered.

PKZ414-Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
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 Peirce out to 15 nm-
PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-
PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-
PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island-
PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island Waters-
PKZ801-Etolin Strait to Dall Point out to 15 nm-
PKZ802-Dall Point to Kwikpak Pass out to 15 nm-
PKZ804-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-
PKZ816-South side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ850-Etolin Strait to Kwemeluk Pass from 15 to 90 nm-
PKZ851-Southwest of Saint Lawrence Island from 15 to 100 nm-
PKZ852-Norton Sound greater than 15 nm-
PKZ853-Kwemeluk Pass to Kwikpak Pass from 15 to 90 nm-
PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-

The main ice edge extends from near Kipnuk to 59 49N 167 32W to 60
26N 168 53W to 58 51N 171 11W to 60 18N 178 56W and continues
into Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Kipnuk to 20 nm south of Cape Mohican to 205 nm north of Saint
Paul to 110 nm north-northwest of Saint Paul to 330 nm northwest of
Saint Paul and continues into Russian waters. The ice edge is open
water.

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is high. Generally northerly winds will persist through the forecast
period. Overall, expect sea ice to drift southward as it continues
to melt and for areas of ice free waters to expand. Also expect
sections of shorefast ice to continue breaking off along the west
coast of Alaska throughout the forecast period.

&&
Fenrich