Comment on tc-2021-284 Anonymous Referee

This manuscripts investigates the predictability of seasonal sea ice in the Pacific-Arctic sector. The authors develop and use a regional linear Markov model with a suite of atmosphere-ocean variables. They find that prediction skill of this model is improved relative to a similar previous pan-Arctic model and that there are key sources of predictability for sea ice in different seasons of the Pacific-Arctic sector. The paper is wellwritten, the structure makes sense, and the figures are clear. I find the use of this regional statistical model interesting and the results are clear and novel, but I think there are a few flaws in the development of this model that may have an impact on the key results.