####018005722####
FZAK80 PAFC 060002

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

302 PM AKST Wednesday 5 March 2025



FORECAST VALID...Monday 10 March 2025



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...High.



SYNOPSIS...Weak low pressure over the northern Chukchi Sea will 

migrate into the High Arctic through the weekend. High pressure 

returns to the area. In the Bering Sea, a low consolidates near 

Nunivak Island through Thursday, then shift it's energy into the 

Gulf of Alaska on Friday. A low moves into the western Bering Sea 

over the weekend, swinging a front over the ice edge near Saint 

Matthew Island.



  

-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. Easterly winds will continue through Monday. 

Expect shorefast ice to remain intact and the pack to move east to 

west around 5 nm/day.  



-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. Light northerly winds will continue thorugh 

Monday. Expect polynyas along the west coast to fill in with new ice 

and the pack ice to migrate closer to the coast. 



-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-



In the Bering Sea, the main ice edge extends from near Cape Newenham 

to 58 22’N 165 38’W to 60 54N 178 44W and continues west into 

Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.





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

near Cape Newenham to To 85 nm south-southeast of Cape Mendenhall to 

260 nm southwest of Gambell and continues west into Russian waters. 

The ice edge is open water. 



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

is high. For Bristol Bay and the Kuskowkim Delta...A warmer air mass 

and southerly to southeasterly winds will continue to melt and 

retreat the ice edge through Friday. Saturday northerly winds and a 

colder air mass will return to grow new ice along the coast for 

Bristol Bay, and move the ice edge southward 5-10 nm/day for the 

Kuskokwim Delta. 



From Nunivak Island westward...expect the ice edge to advance to the 

south 10-15 nm/day through Friday with continued thickening of the 

pack. On late Saturday, a front will bring easterly winds to the ice 

edge with a period of retreat, followed by southerly winds on Sunday 

and Monday. Expect retreat of 10-20 nm east of Saint Matthew Island. 



West of Saint Matthew Island, ice will continue to advance through 

the period on the order of 5-10 nm/day.





-COOK INLET-



PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-



SYNOPSIS...Several fronts will impact the area, with a stronger low 

pressure system in the northern Gulf later in the week.



The main ice edge extends from the West Foreland to 60 29’N 151 39’W 

to the East Foreland. The ice edge is open water.  



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

high. Northeast winds will persist across the Cook Inlet with 

temperatures remaining in the upper 20s at night to upper 30s and 

low 40s during the day. Areas of new ice are possible at night but 

will melt during the day. Expect the ice to continue to gradually 

melt while drifting with tides and currents. Ice is quickly melting 

under these conditions, Cook Inlet could be ice free by the middle 

of this month. 



&& 

Lawson