FZAK80 PAFC 052319
ICEAFC

Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 
National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 
320 PM AKDT Friday 5 July 2024

FORECAST VALID...Wednesday 10 July 2024

ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High to moderate.

SYNOPSIS...A low over the southern Beaufort Sea will track east into 
Interior Alaska through Saturday afternoon while high pressure 
builds over the High Arctic. On Monday, a broad low will move south 
from the High Arctic, reaching the northern Chukchi Sea Monday 
night. The low lingers near there through Wednesday as it gradually 
weakens.

The main ice edge extends from near Espenberg to 69 14'N 166 36'W 
to 68 15'N 170 43'W to 66 14'N 170 9'W. The ice edge is open water.

From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 
Espenberg to 22 nm northwest of Cape Lisburne to 100 nm west of 
Point Hope to 40 nm northwest of Diomede. 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-
PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 nm to 80 nm-
PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 15 nm to 75 nm-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 
confidence is high. Winds will be light and variable across the 
southern Beaufort Sea through Monday, and sea ice will drift with 
local tides and currents. On Tuesday, easterly winds increase and 
will remain stronger through Wednesday. Thus, expect sea ice to 
generally drift westward. Near shore ice will continue to degrade 
from the shore. Expect the melt area from the Mackenzie River Delta 
to continue to make westward progress 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-

Ice covered.

FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 
confidence is moderate. Southerly winds across the southern Chukchi 
Sea will continue through tonight before shifting northerly on 
Saturday. From Sunday into Monday, winds become light and variable 
across much of the Chukchi Sea and sea ice is expect to move with 
the local currents during this period. For Tuesday and Wednesday, 
north-northwesterly winds increase again. A band of remaining pack 
ice along the coast from Point Hope to Cape Espenberg will likely 
move away from the coastline as it continues to gradually melt. Much 
of the marginal ice across the Chukchi Sea should melt throughout 
the next several days. 
  
&&
Fenrich