961
FZAK80 PAFC 232255
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
254 PM AKDT Monday 23 September 2024

FORECAST VALID...Saturday 28 September 2024

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate.

SYNOPSIS...Low pressure will remain over the Beaufort Sea through
Friday. Then drift north on Saturday as high pressure builds over
the southern Beaufort Sea.

The main ice edge extends from Russian waters to 72 48N 170 27W to
72 58N 166 59W to 74 28N 170 6W to 76 15N 165 19W to 77 23N
140 54W and continues in Canadian waters. The ice edge is open
water. Sea ice also lingers off the north coast of the Chukchi
Peninsula and at times moves into Alaska waters between the Bering
Strait and Point Hope.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 270
nm west of Point Barrow to 205 nm west-northwest of Point Barrow to
300 nm northwest of Point Barrow to 440 nm north of Demarcation
Point and continues in Canadian waters. The ice edge is open water.
Sea ice also lingers off the northern coast of the Chukchi Peninsula
and at times moves into Alaska waters between the Bering Strait and
Point Hope.

-BEAUFORT SEA-

PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ510-Eastern US Arctic Offshore-

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is moderate. Winds will generally be northerly to
easterly through Tuesday, then the easterly winds will spread west
across the remaining ice pack. Winds then shift back to northerly
over the western Beaufort Sea Thursday and Friday, and westerly
winds will develop Saturday as the low moves north. Overall, expect
the ice pack to drift with these winds, though there will be times
when winds are light that the sea ice will drift more with local
currents. New ice will continue to form along the edge of the main
ice pack, bringing the overall ice edge up to 20 nm south through
Saturday.

-CHUKCHI SEA-

PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is moderate. Northerly to northwesterly winds will
persist through Saturday. Sea ice will generally drift southeast 20
to 30 nm through the forecast period and new sea ice will likely
form along the ice edge.

&&
Schreck