FZAK80 PAFC 282308

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

307 PM AKDT Monday 28 September 2026





FORECAST VALID…Saturday 3 October 2026





ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE…High.





SYNOPSIS… A series of lows travel eastward over the ice pack

bringing variable, moderate winds through Tuesday. A high from the

Russian Arctic moves over the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas on Wednesday

and persists through the end of the forecast period. Freezing

temperatures are maintained over the entire forecast period,

contributing to widespread freezing in and around the ice pack.





The main ice edge in Alaska waters extends from near 70 11'N 146

53'W to 70 26'N 143 58'W to 71 36'N 152 24'W to 74 27'N 162 20'W to

71 32'N 177 39'W. The ice edge is open water.





From land-based points in Alaska, the main edge extends from 25 nm

east of Prudhoe Bay to 20 nm northwest of Kaktovik to 50 nm north of

Cape Halkett to 210 nm north-northwest of Point Franklin. 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-

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.





Moderate northerly winds weaken by Wednesday as high pressure builds

over the region. Winds will remain light and variable through the

remainder of the forecast period. Expect ice to drift southeastward

5-10 nm/day through Tuesday, then to drift with local tides and

currents through Saturday. Freezing temperatures will see continued

ice growth within and around the ice, particularly in the northern

Beaufort Sea.









-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-









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

confidence is high.





There are strips of very open brash ice in Russian waters 200 nm

south of Wrangel Island. Otherwise, Alaskan waters are ice free.

Moderate northerly winds are advancing the ice southward. This

southward advance will accelerate as a cold front sweeps through on

Tuesday. A return to light southerly winds on Thursday will slow the

ice advance for the remainder of the forecast period. Expect the ice

edge to expand southward 40 nm by Saturday.







-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-

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-





Ice free.









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

is high.









-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-









Ice free.









 FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is

high.









&&



Jewell