592
FZAK80 PAFC 062320
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
220 PM AKST Friday 6 March 2026

FORECAST VALIDWednesday 11 March 2026

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCEModerate to high.

SYNOPSISA low over the northern Gulf will weaken as it lingers over
the Gulf through Wednesday. A high pressure system will build over
the Bering Sea through Wednesday, spreading high pressure across the
Chukchi and Beaufort Seas throughout the forecast period.

-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 45 to 80 nm-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 45 to 80 nm-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Light westerly to northwesterly winds linger
through Saturday. Then, winds shift southwesterly to westerly from
Sunday through Wednesday. Break-off of shorefast ice is not
expected, however small polynyas may form in between the shorefast
ice and mobile pack ice during periods with a southerly wind
component. Otherwise, pack ice will move very little through the
week.

-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.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Northerly winds will become northwesterly on
Saturday and then persist through Monday. By Wednesday, winds shift
southerly. Shorefast ice is not expected to break off anywhere along
the Alaska coastline during the forecast period. Pack ice will move
very little through the week.

-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-

Ice covered.

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-

The main ice edge in the Bering Sea extends from near 55 35`N 162
25`W to 57 17`N 161 4`W to 56 8`N 164 19`W to 56 32`N 167 36`W to 57
11`N 169 18`W to 56 52`N 170 21`W to 57 52`N 173 3`W to 60 19`N 177
50`W and continues into Russian waters. The ice edge is new close
pack ice.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge in the Bering
Sea extends from 35 nm southwest of Port Moller to 85 nm west of
Port Heiden to 180 nm east of Saint George to 65 nm east of Saint
George to 35 nm north of Saint George to 30 nm northwest of Saint
George to 140 nm west-northwest of Saint George to 155 nm southwest
of Saint Matthew Island and continues into Russian waters. The ice
edge is new close pack ice.

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is moderate. Northerly winds will shift northwesterly by Saturday
and generally persist through Wednesday. Currently, sea ice has
reached Saint Paul but not Saint George. The warmer, above freezing
sea surface temperatures surrounding Saint George are preventing sea
ice from reaching the island, despite the persistent northerly
winds. As winds shift northwesterly, sea ice is expected to move
southeast around 10 nm/day. However, sea ice will continue to combat
the warmer sea surface temperatures between Saint Paul and Saint
George. Thus, at this time, sea ice is not expected to completely
overtake Saint George as it has for Saint Paul. But, the ice edge
may get close to Saint George at times during the next few days as
sea surface temperatures and winds fluctuate.

-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-

The main ice edge in Cook Inlet extends from between Ninilchik and
Anchor Point to Chinitna Bay. There is also ice in Kamishak Bay.

FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is
high. The current warmer, near-freezing air temperatures will soon
be replaced by a colder airmass which will promote further growth of
sea ice. The ice edge will continue to advance southward about 5-10
nm/day through the forecast period.

Please note that ice motion in Cook Inlet is highly influenced
by tides.


&&
Fenrich