254
FZAK80 PAFC 182258
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
258 PM AKDT Friday 18 July 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 23 July 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High

SYNOPSIS...High pressure will strengthen and linger over the high
Arctic through Wednesday while low pressure dissipates in the
western Bering Sea.

-BEAUFORT SEA-

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

Ice covered.

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-

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light to moderate easterly winds will continue
through Monday then becoming light and variable through Wednesday.
Expect the marginal ice zone to expand to the west near Point Barrow
while the ice edge in general pushes away from the coast around 5-10
nm. The ice free area near the Mackenzie River Delta will push
westward into Alaska waters for the first time this season.


-CHUKCHI SEA-

PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-
PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-
PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 nm-

Ice covered.

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-
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 extends from near Wainwright to 70 57N 165 33W
to 69 51N 166 46W to 69 43N 169W and continues in Russian
waters. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Wainwright to 105 nm west of Wainwright to 70 nm west of Point
Lay to 150 nm west of Point Lay.


FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light to moderate easterly winds will continue
through the period. Expect a polynya to open up along the coast
between Wainwright and Utqiagvik. The polynya combined with the
strengthening coastal current will open navigational waters to
Utqiagvik by Monday. Otherwise expect the ice edge to retreat 10 to
20 nm in most areas.

&&
Lawson