265
FZAK80 PAFC 222243
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
243 PM AKDT Friday 22 August 2025

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 27 August 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate

SYNOPSIS...A low over near the Pole will remain anchored in place
through the period while several disturbances move from the Bering
Sea into the Beaufort 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-
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-

The main ice edge in the Beaufort Sea extends from near 70 8N 144
52W to 70 13N 143 36W to 70 27N 140 47W to 69 51N 138 14W and
continues east into Canadian waters. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Beaufort
Sea extends from 25 nm west of Kaktovik to 5 nm north of Kaktovik to
45 nm north of Demarcation Point to 60 nm northeast of Demarcation
Point and continues east into Canadian waters. The ice edge is open
water.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Westerly winds will persist through the forecast
period. Overall, expect sea ice to continue melting and for ice free
and open water areas near the coast to continue expanding especially
during periods of southerly winds. The westerly winds will
counteract the Beaufort Gyre and move ice westward on the order of
10-15 nm/day through Wednesday.

-CHUKCHI SEA-

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

Ice covered.

PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-
PKZ858-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 nm-
PKZ859-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett from 15 to 75 nm-

The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from near Smith Bay to
71 32N 152 51W to 71 20N 157 1W to 71 8N 159 59W to 72 10N
165 9W to 71 36N 168 41W to 72 39N 172 7W 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 Smith Bay to 75 nm northeast of Utqiagvik to 5
nm northwest of Utqiagvik to 30 nm north of Wainwright to 130 nm
north-northwest of Wainwright to 170 nm northwest of Wainwright to
245 nm northwest 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 high. Westerly winds continue through Monday. Expect
the ice edge to retreat and move eastward around 5-10 nm/day. A
brief period of light northerly winds will advance the ice 5-10 nm
on Tuesday before westerly winds resume on Wednesday.


&&
Lawson/Riedel