News Type:
Water monitoring bulletin
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
- Provisional water levels at the Hay River near Hay River gauge (just upstream of town) reached a maximum yesterday morning;
- Ice has started to clear from Town and water levels are receding;
- According to provisional data, water levels at the gauge site have dropped almost 5 m since the peak yesterday morning;
- The ice jam on the Liard River at Fort Liard has cleared and there is now open water;
- Ice remains relatively stationary at Jean Marie River, extending from the Trout River to the Rabbitskin River;
- Ice continues to move well on the Mackenzie River downstream of Fort Simpson;
- Ice remains stationary on the Mackenzie River at Tulita;
- Water levels under ice are slowly increasing further downstream on the Mackenzie River, as is normal for this time of year.
Hay River
Current status
- Provisional water levels at the Hay River near Hay River gauge (just upstream of town) reached a maximum yesterday morning;
- The provisional maximum water level of 12.854 m was recorded at 06:50
- The previous maximum water level at the gauge was 10.538 m in 1989 - This does not include the 1963 flood (gauge was installed in the summer of 1963);
- According to provisional data, water levels at the gauge site have dropped almost 5 m since the peak yesterday morning of 11:00 today;
- Upstream water levels on the main stem of the Hay River (NT-AB border and Meander River) are continuing to rise as snowmelt water moves through the basin;
- Water levels on smaller Alberta tributaries are receding as the snow melt peak has passed;
- The Alberta portion of the basin near Hay River is expected to receive some precipitation this weekend (5-10 mm);
- This precipitation is not expected to lead to further or continued flooding at the Town of Hay River and K’atl’odeeche First Nation, as long as flow out of the East and West channels is not impeded by ice;
- 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 on the Liard River at Fort Liard have receded since flooding was reported on May 10;
- Ice has pushed past Fort Liard and there is now open water at the community;
- There is open water on the Liard River at the Fort Simpson ferry crossing.
Slave River/Great Slave Lake/Dehcho (Mackenzie River)
Current status
- Break up continues to progress along the Slave River;
- Ice remains mostly stationary on the Mackenzie River from Trout River to the mouth of the Rabbitskin River;
- According to Jean Marie River First Nation, the Jean Marie Creek is free of ice and moving freely;
- The Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson is open and small amounts of ice continue to move well;
- Ice was reported to be moving on the Mackenzie River at Wrigley as of yesterday;
- Mackenzie River ice is still stationary at Tulita;
- 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
- Water levels are beginning to increase on the Peel River, as is usual for this time of year;
- Water levels in the Mackenzie Delta have slowly started to increase;
- Water levels were much higher than average over winter, but lower than last year.
