016
FZAK80 PAFC 032253
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
253 PM AKDT Monday 3 June 2024

FORECAST VALID...Saturday 8 June 2024

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High.

SYNOPSIS...Low pressure will remain anchored over the Gulf of Alaska
onto the Mainland while high pressure builds in the Arctic keeping
much of the area over the ice in light northerly flow.

The main ice edge extends from near Wales to 63 28N 166 20W to 62
33N 166 45W to 61 42N 168 16W to 61 57N 169 59W to southeast
Saint Lawrence Island then continues from Gambell westward into
Russian waters. The ice edge is open water. There is remaining brash
ice near the upper Yukon Delta as well as outer Norton Sound.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Wales to 75 nm south of Nome to 70 nm west of Hooper Bay to 130
nm west of Hooper Bay to southeast Saint Lawrence Island then
continues from Gambell westward into Russian waters. The ice edge is
open water. There is remaining brash ice near the upper Yukon Delta
as well as outer Norton Sound.

-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-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 nm to 80 nm-
PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 15 nm to 75 nm-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Northeasterly winds will persist through the
period. The ice pack will continue to be consolidated through
Wednesday, with some movement influenced by local currents. Expect
shorefast ice to begin to degrade from river discharge.

-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-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Winds will remain out of the north to northeast
through the period south of Point Barrow. These winds will help the
existing polynya off the northwest coast of Alaska to continue to
expand through the forecast period though it will move the pack to
the south. Sea ice will continue to thin between the Bering Strait
and Point Hope as well. A large polynya will open between Point Hope
and Kotzebue.

-BERING SEA-

PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 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-
PKZ803-Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens 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-
PKZ817-North 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-

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is high. Winds will generally be northerly over the remaining sea
ice through Saturday. Sea ice will rapidly melt through the forecast
period. Ice free areas of Norton Sound and the southern Bering Sea
will continue to expand. The only remaining pack ice will be
northeast of Saint Lawrence Island and through the Bering Strait.


&&
Lawson