FZAK80 PAFC 042256

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

256 PM AKDT Monday 4 August 2025



FORECAST VALID...Saturday 9 August 2025



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate



SYNOPSIS...High pressure builds over the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas

through Thursday. A low drops southward from the Pole Thursday and

Friday, then weakens through the weekend.



-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-



The main ice edge in the Beaufort Sea extends from near 70 10’N 145

52’W to 70 43’N 144 14’W to 70 16’N 141W and continues into Canadian

waters. The ice edge is open water.



From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 45

nm west of Kaktovik to 40 nm northwest of Kaktovik to 40 nm north of

Demarcation Point and continues in Canadian waters. The ice edge is

open water.



FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast

confidence is moderate. Winds will remain light and variable through

early Thursday. Expect ice to mainly move with local tides and

currents and drift 5-10 nm/day with the Beaufort Gyre. The low

pressure dropping into the area will bring some light to moderate

westerly winds which will counteract this movement over the weekend.

Expect the ice free area from the Mackenzie River Delta to continue

to push westward in Alaska waters. Overall expect continued slow

melt of the existing ice.





-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.



PKZ858-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 nm-



The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from near Utqiagvik to

70 52’N 167 2’W to 69 55’N 167 58’W and continues west in Russian

waters. The ice edge is open water.





From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from

near Utqiagvik to 190 nm west-southwest of Utqiagvik to 230 nm west

of Utqiagvik and continues into Russian waters. 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

Thursday. Expect ice to move with local tides and currents while

slowly melting. Friday through the weekend, light northwesterly winds

will bring the ice edge southward 10-15 nm/day.





&&

Lawson