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
Current status - NWT
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Provisional water level data for the gauge on the Hay River near Hay River remain extremely high;
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Ice began to shift yesterday with an ice jam from upstream moving into the downstream ice jam near town. This shift in ice caused water levels to increase rapidly through the Town of Hay River and K’atl’odeeche First Nation;
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Water levels are extremely volatile right now and continue to be impacted by ice in the channel. Rapid changes in water levels remain possible;
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A stretch of ice remains at Fort Liard, but ice is otherwise moving well on the Liard River;
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Intact ice on the Mackenzie River remains at Jean Marie River as of this morning;
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Ice is moving well on the Mackenzie River downstream of Fort Simpson;
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Ice was reported to be moving on the Mackenzie River at Wrigley as of this morning;
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Water levels are slowly increasing further downstream on the Mackenzie River, as is normal for this time of year.
Hay River
Current status
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Provisional water levels at the Hay River near Hay River gauge have increased approximately 1.7 m over the past three days;
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Prior to this, water levels had remained steady for approximately three days as ice held in the river channel in part due to cool temperatures;
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Ice began to shift yesterday with an ice jam from upstream moving into the downstream ice jam near town. This shift in ice caused water levels to increase rapidly through the Town of Hay River and K’atl’odeeche First Nation;
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Water levels are extremely volatile right now and continue to be impacted by ice in the channel. Rapid changes in water levels remain possible;
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The upstream gauges on the main stem of the Hay River continue to slowly increase as snowmelt water moves through the system;
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The smaller upstream tributaries to the Hay River (in Alberta) are starting to decrease;
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The water level response on the Hay River and its tributaries to precipitation is very rapid at this time of year due to low basin storage and frozen ground;
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Refer to the Town of Hay River website for the most up-to-date information, as well as webcam images of current conditions.
Liard river
Current status
- Water levels at Fort Liard have receded somewhat since flooding was reported on May 10;
- Pack ice remains on the river near town (see imagery below);
- Fort Liard Flood Watch continues to monitor the river for movement or additional ice;
- There is open water on the Liard River at the Fort Simpson ferry crossing.
Slave River/Great Slave Lake/Dehcho (Mackenzie River)
Current status
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Break up continues to progress along the Slave River;
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Ice remains on the Mackenzie River in front of Jean Marie River until the mouth of the Rabbitskin River;
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The Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson is open and small amounts of ice continue to move well;
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Ice was reported to be moving on the Mackenzie River at Wrigley;
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Under ice water levels downstream on the Mackenzie River (Norman Wells and beyond) are slowly starting to rise, as is normal for this time of year.
Peel River and Beaufort Delta
Current status
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Water levels are beginning to increase on the Peel River, as is usual for this time of year;
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Water levels in the Delta have slowly started to increase;
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Water levels were much higher than average over winter, but lower than last year.
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