978
FZAK80 PAFC 302313
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
313 PM AKDT Wednesday 30 September 2026


FORECAST VALIDMonday 5 October 2026


ANALYSIS CONFIDENCEHigh.


SYNOPSISA weak low over the North Slope pinches off from the polar
vortex on Thursday, then meanders northward over the Beaufort Sea
for the remainder of the forecast period. Winds over the ice pack
will be light and variable for much of the period. A Bering Sea low
may begin to affect winds north of Alaska late Sunday into Monday.
Freezing air temperatures will continue to drive widespread freezing
in and around the pack.


The main ice edge in Alaska waters extends from near 70 28`N 149 3`W
to 70 17`N 142 51`W to 70 48`N 150 5`W to 74 20`N 161 18`W to 71
53`N 175 39`W. The ice edge is a mix of new and multiyear pack ice.


From land-based points in Alaska, the main edge extends from 16 nm
east of Oliktok Point to 18 nm northeast of Kaktovik to 17 nm
northwest of Oliktok Point to 200 nm north of Point Franklin to 250
nm northwest of Cape Lisburne. The ice edge is a mix of new and
multiyear pack ice.


-BEAUFORT SEA-


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

Ice covered.


PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

Ice free.



FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high.


Winds will be light and variable for much of the forecast period.
Moderate easterly flow may begin to develop on Monday in the
southern Beaufort as a Bering Sea low approaches. Expect ice to
drift with local tides and currents. Freezing temperatures will see
continued ice growth within and around the ice pack. There is
potential for new ice to begin developing along the coast.


-CHUKCHI SEA-


PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 nm-

Ice covered.


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 free.


FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high.


Alaskan waters are presently ice free. Winds will be light and
variable until Monday when moderate northwesterly flow develops due
to an approaching Bering Sea low. The ice pack will continue to
consolidate and advance southward under freezing air temperatures.
In the eastern Chukchi the ice edge may advance southward by 50 nm
by Monday. Navigational waters will likely remain ice free.



-BERING SEA-


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-
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-
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-
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 Pierce out to 15 nm-
PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-
PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island Waters-
PKZ816-South Side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ817-North Side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ851-Southwest of Saint Lawrence Island from 15 to 100 nm-
PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-


Ice free.




FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is high.




-COOK INLET-


PKZ730-West of Barren Islands including Kamishak Bay-
PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
PZK741-Kachemak Bay-
PKZ742-Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-




Ice free.




 FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is
high.




&&

Jewell