The Government of the Northwest Territories maintains water monitoring stations across the territory to keep track of water levels and flow rates in areas of potential flood risk for communities.

This information is provided regularly to territorial and regional emergency managers to help understand the status of waterways across the NWT in the lead-up to, and during spring break-up – the highest-risk period for floods in the Northwest Territories.

Technical data

• Water monitoring technical bulletin – April 30

Current status – NWT

• Water levels remain low on the Hay River and most of the remaining river ice is between Alexandra Falls and the Town of Hay River
  • The Hay River at the AB-NT border gauge appears to have hit its ice-induced peak yesterday (Apr. 29)
• On the Liard River and on the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson, water levels are rising under the ice, but the rates of increase are still small;
• Warmer than seasonal temperatures are forecast for the Hay River and lower Liard River basins over the next week.
  • Nearly all of the snowpack in the Hay River basin has already melted;
  • Snowmelt is well underway in the lowlands of the Liard River basin
  • Temperatures will approach 20°C in the southern parts of the basins and will rapidly melt residual snowpack and soften river ice.

Current Status - Hay River

• Nearly all of the snowpack has melted from the Hay River basin
• Water levels at the Hay River near Hay River gauge reached a peak of 3.97 m around 09:00 this morning (Apr. 30) and have been receding since
• Ice continues to move between Alexandra Falls and the Town of Hay River
• Water levels at the AB-NT border appear to have hit their ice-induced peak yesterday (Apr. 29) around noon
• Satellite imagery shows large sections of open water upstream of Alexandra Falls
• Refer to the Town of Hay River website for the most up-to-date information, as well as webcam images of current conditions.

Current Status – Liard River

• Snowpack continues to melt with warm temperatures
• Ice remains mostly intact along the Liard River within the NWT but is beginning to soften;
• Water levels are increasing underneath the ice on the Liard River at Fort Liard
  • The low rate of water level rise is normal for this time of year;
• The southern Dehcho region is forecast to receive warmer than normal temperatures that will persist into next week.

Current Status – Slave River/Great Slave Lake/Mackenzie River

• Satellite imagery shows small open water sections on the Mackenzie River upstream of Jean Marie River, but river ice remains largely intact;
• Water levels are rising underneath the ice on the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson, but the rate of increase is still small and is normal for this time of year;
• The southern Dehcho region is forecast to receive warmer than normal temperatures that will persist well into next week and will help to soften river ice.