FZAK80 PAFC 132259

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program

1:59 PM AKST Friday 13 November 2026





FORECAST VALID…Wednesday 18 November 2026





ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE…High.





SYNOPSIS… High pressure persists over the Arctic while a series of

lows traverse the Bering and Gulf throughout the forecast period.

Several smaller waves of low pressure track westward over the Bering

Strait.





-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 northeasterly winds persist throughout the forecast period,

with speeds in the southwest occasionally approaching near gales.

Expect the main pack to drift 10-15 nm/day westward for much of the

forecast period. Near to complete ice coverage is likely by Monday.





-CHUKCHI SEA-





PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

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-

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

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

PKZ856-Wales to Cape Thompson greater than 15 nm-

PKZ857-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort from 15 to 85 nm-



Ice covered.





PKZ807-Wales to Cape Espenberg out to 15 nm-





Ice free.





The main ice edge in the Chukchi Sea extends from near 71 28'N 157

8'W to 70 25'N 174 39'W to 67 20'N 170 55'W. The ice edge is new

pack ice with traces of old ice. A tongue of new ice extends

northeastward from the Russian coast toward Point Hope.



From land-based points in Alaska, the main edge in the Chukchi Sea

extends from 10 nm west of Nuvuk to 195 nm northwest of Cape

Lisburne to 105 nm west-southwest of Point Hope. The ice edge is new

pack ice with traces of old ice. A tongue of new ice extends

northeastward from the Russian coast toward Point Hope.





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

confidence is high.



Pack ice continues to grow in the northern Chukchi and along the

Russian coast. New ice is growing along the Alaska coast, between

the Russian coast and Point Hope, and within protected waters of

Kotzebue Sound. Expect the main pack to drift 10-15 nm/day westward

for much of the forecast period under moderate to near gale force

northeasterly winds. Freezing air temperatures will support

continued growth of coastal ice. By Wednesday, the high-

concentration coastal ice between Cape Lisburne and Barrow could

extend another 15-20 nm offshore. Widespread growth of marginal ice

further offshore is also possible. Kotzebue Sound will likely see

near to complete ice coverage by Wednesday.





-BERING SEA-



PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-

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-

PKZ852-Norton Sound greater than 15 nm-

PKZ853-Kwemeluk Pass to Kwikpak Pass from 15 to 90 nm-



Ice covered.





PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island

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-

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.



New ice is growing in nearshore waters of the Yukon-Kuskowkwim Delta

and within protected waters of Norton Sound. This coastal ice will

continue developing for much of the forecast period under light

winds and freezing air temperatures. However, the ice will likely

degrade when a strong low moves into the eastern Bering late Tuesday

into Wednesday. Sea surface temperatures remain elevated outside of

Norton Sound and away from protected nearshore waters. Expect these

waters to remain ice free by Wednesday.





-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 that waters remain ice free.







&& Jewell