183
FZAK80 PAFC 262231
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program
230 PM AKDT Wednesday 26 March 2025

FORECAST VALID...Monday 31 March 2025

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High.

SYNOPSIS...High pressure will remain over the Beaufort Sea as well
as over the Bering Sea through Monday, while the Chukchi Sea is on
the eastern side of a series of lows that will track north across
Siberia and into the East Siberian Sea.

-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 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-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast
confidence is high. Northeasterly to easterly winds will persist
through Monday. Expect the ice pack to continue to thicken and
generally move to the west to southwest at about 10 to 15 nm/day
through the forecast period.

-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. North of Point Hope, easterly winds will become
southerly Sunday and Monday. South of Point Hope, westerly winds
will become southerly Saturday through Monday. Expect sea ice to
drift with winds Sunday through Monday. Polynyas will continue to
form off the northwest coast of Alaska through the forecast period
and may form off the north side of the Seward Peninsula Saturday
through Monday.

-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-
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.

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 Peirce out to 15 nm-
PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-
PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island Waters-

The main ice edge extends from near Egegik to 57 40N 166 47W to 61
5N 178 48W and continues west into Russian waters. The ice edge is
low concentration strips of ice.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from
near Egegik to 125 nm south of Cape Mendenhall to 250 nm southwest
of Gambell and continues west into Russian waters. The ice edge is
low concentration strips of ice.

FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence
is high. From Saint Matthew Island eastward...moderate northerly to
northwesterly winds will continue through Monday. Expect the ice
edge to continue to move south to southeast 30 to 50 nm through
Monday. Ice will continue to come off the main pack in strips,
moving southward into warmer water and gradually melting.

West of Saint Matthew Island...winds will be southerly to
southwesterly through Monday. Expect sea ice to retreat north 30 to
40 nm through the forecast period, and strips of ice will compact
against the ice edge.

-COOK INLET-

PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-

SYNOPSIS...The general low track will be across the southern Gulf of
Alaska through Monday.

New sea ice is forming during the nighttime hours when air
temperatures fall into the low 20s generally north of Point
Possession, then melting during the day. Otherwise, remaining sea
ice is confined to Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm.

FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is
high. With lows in the 20s and highs around 40 degrees, expect new
sea ice to continue to form at night and melt during the day through
the forecast period. Any remaining thicker sea ice within Knik Arm
and Turnagain Arm will continue to melt.

&&
Schreck