867
FZAK80 PAFC 182315
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
315 PM AKDT Wednesday 18 June 2025

FORECAST VALID...Monday 23 June 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate to high

SYNOPSIS...High pressure will persist across the Chukchi Sea and
Beaufort Sea. A low from the North Pacific will track into the
Bering Sea on Wednesday and then linger through Sunday. Low pressure
will spread east into the Chukchi Sea by Saturday.

-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 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-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light and variable winds will persist. Sea ice
will generally move with the Beaufort Gyre, 5-10 nm/day to the west
Some shorefast ice will continue to decay in warmer temperatures.

-CHUKCHI SEA-

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

Ice covered.

The main ice edge extends from near Wales to 67 17N 165 31W to 68
20N 168 58W to 69 10N 169 21W and continues southwest in Russian
waters. The ice edge is open water.


From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Wales to 70 nm north of Shishmaref to 50 nm west of Point Hope
to 70 nm west of Cape Lisburne.  The ice edge is open water.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light and variable winds will persist through
the weekend, moving ice generally with tides and currents. Southerly
winds will begin to move the ice edge to the north Sunday and
Monday, 10-20 nm/day. A stream of pack ice will continue from
Kotzebue Sound through Point Hope.


-BERING SEA-

PKZ806-Sledge Island to Wales out to 15 nm-
PKZ817-North side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-

The main ice edge extends from near Wales to 67 17N 165 31W to 68
20N 168 58W to 69 10N 169 21W and continues southwest in Russian
waters. The ice edge is open water.


From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Wales to 70 nm north of Shishmaref to 50 nm west of Point Hope
to 70 nm west of Cape Lisburne.  The ice edge is open water.

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is high. Light and variable winds will keep marginal ice moving
northward through the Bering Strait. Overall, sea ice will continue
to melt. Sea ice free conditions are possible by Monday save for a
small area of ice near Diomede.

&&
Lawson