920
FZAK80 PAFC 212310
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
210 PM AKDT Friday 21 November 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 26 November 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate.

SYNOPSIS...There is currently a low nearing the western Bering Sea,
a low complex over the state of Alaska, and a low exiting the
Chukchi Sea to the northwest. A high pressure ridge builds ahead of
the Bering Sea low and eventually spreads high pressure across the
Chukchi Sea, High Arctic, and Beaufort Sea from Sunday through
Wednesday. The Bering Sea low tracks east over the Aleutian Islands
and lingers there from Sunday 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 45 to 80 nm-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 45 to 80 nm-
PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 45 to 80 nm-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Northeasterly winds are moving sea ice back
towards the coast, closing off the previously formed polynyas. Any
remaining polynyas are currently filling in with new ice. Along the
coast from about Deadhorse east, westerly winds are expected to
develop tonight while the remainder of the Beaufort Sea winds remain
light northerlies. Thus, expect pack ice near the coast to move east
5-10 nm per day through the weekend. By Monday, the light
northerlies shift to westerly while the westerly winds near the
coast continue. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a high pressure system
centers over the Beaufort Sea, creating mostly light and variable
winds across the region. However, the western Beaufort Sea can
expect to see easterly/southeasterly winds while the eastern
Beaufort Sea will see westerly/northwesterly winds. As a result, sea
ice can be expected to move west and east 5-10 nm per day over the
western and eastern Beaufort, respectively.

-CHUKCHI SEA-

PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-
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-
PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-
PKZ855-Kotzebue Sound greater than 10 nm-
PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 nm-

Ice covered.

PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ807-Wales to Cape Espenberg out to 15 nm-
PKZ811-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort out to 15 nm-
PKZ812-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 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-

The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from near Wales to 66
42N 164 48W to 68 24N 168 8W to 65 55N 169 7W. There is also
an ice edge that extends from Russian waters to 69 27N 168 58W to
70 15N 164 14W to 70 40N 168 54W 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 Wales to 35 nm southwest of Cape Krusenstern
to 30 nm west of Point Hope to 30 nm northwest of Wales. There is
also an ice edge that extends from Russian waters to 120 nm west of
Point Lay to 45 nm west of Icy Cape to 170 nm west 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 moderate. Northwesterly winds shift northerly on
Saturday and then variable on Sunday due to high pressure building.
On Monday, generally northeasterly winds develop again, especially
along the NW AK coast and within Kotzebue Sound. These winds become
stronger easterlies on Tuesday and then southeasterlies on
Wednesday. Overall, the ice edges are expected to continue advancing
throughout the forecast period, shrinking areas that are still sea
ice free and open water. Expected continued sea ice growth off of
the NW AK coast and within Kotzebue Sound.

-BERING SEA-

PKZ802-Dall Point to Kwikpak Pass out to 15 nm-
PKZ803-Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens out to 15 nm-

Ice covered.

PKZ761-Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 nm-
PKZ762-Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 nm-
PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-
PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island
PKZ801-Etolin Strait to Dall Point 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-
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 in the Bering Sea extends from near Quinhagak to
59 21N 163 51W to 62 12N 167 11W to 64 9N 164 43W to 65 48N
168 17W. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Bering
Sea extends from near Quinhagak to 35 nm south of Kipnuk to 50 nm
northwest of Hooper Bay to 18 nm south of Port Safety to 12 nm
northwest of Wales. The ice edge is open water.

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is moderate. Northerly to northwesterly winds will persist through
Saturday. A strong low will track to the Aleutian Islands and shift
winds across the eastern Bering Sea to be easterly/northeasterly on
Sunday. Moderate easterly winds will persist through Wednesday as
the low lingers near the Aleutians. Sea ice within Norton Sound,
along the NW Yukon-Delta coast, and south of Saint Lawrence Island
will grow throughout the forecast period. There is less confidence
in the sea ice growth/melt within Bristol Bay due to a warmer
airmass being present.

-COOK INLET-

PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-

There is ice growing in Turnagain Arm and Knik Arm, primarily on the
mudflats. This ice is getting moved off the mudflats with the tides.

FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is
moderate. Air temperatures are expected to cool over the weekend and
through at least mid-week, which will help with ice growth.

&&
Fenrich