Ice Forecast
Issued by NWS Anchorage, AK

000
FZAK80 PAFC 172244
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
245 PM AKDT Wednesday 17 April 2024

FORECAST VALID...Monday 22 April 2024

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.

SYNOPSIS...High pressure remains over the western Bering Sea while a
storm system remains nearly stationary south of the Alaska
Peninsula. A weak low pressure system moves northward through the
Bering Strait into the Chukchi through the week.

The main ice edge extends from near Egegik to 57 11’N 162 58’W to 59
34’N 173 21’W to 60 40’N 178 30’W and continues in Russian waters.
The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Egegik to 95 nm south of Cape Newenham to 60 nm south of Saint
Matthew Island to 270 nm southwest of Gambell and continues in
Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.


-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-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 nm to 80 nm-
PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 15 nm to 75 nm-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Northeast winds will continue through late week.
Expect ice to mainly move with currents from east to west until
Saturday when the winds reverse to westerly and ice moves to the
east.

-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-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Easterly winds will open polynya along west-
facing coastlines through mid-Friday. Then, westerly winds will
close the polynya through the weekend.

-BERING SEA-

PKZ762-Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Peirce out to 15 nm-
PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-
PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island-
PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island waters-
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-
PKZ816-South side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ817-North side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-
PKZ850-Etolin Strait to Kwemeluk Pass from 15 to 90 nm-
PKZ851-Southwest of Saint Lawrence Island from 15 to 100 nm-
PKZ852-Norton Sound greater than 15 nm-
PKZ853-Kwemeluk Pass to Kwikpak Pass from 15 to 90 nm-
PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-

Ice covered.

PKZ412-Bering Sea 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
PKZ414-Bering Sea East of 171W-
PKZ756-Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 nm-
PKZ758-Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 nm-
PKZ760-Bristol Bay greater than 15 nm-
PKZ761-Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 nm-
PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-
PKZ766-Pribilof Islands Nearshore Waters-

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

Advance will continue as light northerly winds remain through the
week. Expect the ice edge to advance on the order of 10 nm/day
through Saturday. Then, a large system centered over the western
Aleutian will bring southeasterlies back to the Bering Sea and a
period of stall or retreat.

For the far eastern Bering Sea/Bristol Bay, a stagnant system with
easterly winds will significantly melt ice and push the edge to the
west. Little ice will remain in Bristol Bay, as well as near the
Kuskokwim Delta, except for the remaining shorefast ice.


-COOK INLET-

PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-

FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is
high. River ice may move south into upper Cook Inlet via the Knik
River. Otherwise, Cook Inlet is expected to remain largely sea ice
free.

&&
Lawson