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 – May 14, 2022 

Current status - NWT

• Provisional water levels at the Hay River near Hay River hydrometric gauge have dropped 5 m since their peak on Thursday morning;

  • Water levels are now indicative of open water conditions;

  • It is expected that water levels at the gauge site will likely continue to slowly rise over the next few days, however the rate of rise is much lower with ice free conditions and will not approach the ice-induced water levels from earlier this week;

  • The provisional water level reading as of 12:00 (~7.9 m) is the highest open water level on record;

• Ice is moving well along the entirety of the NWT portion of the Liard River;

  • There is a significant precipitation event forecast over the South Nahanni River basin over the next five days;

    • It is uncertain at this time whether the precipitation will fall as rain or snow;

• Ice on the Mackenzie River is currently moving at Jean Marie River;

  • Mackenzie River ice has started to flow past Fort Simpson;

• Ice continues to move well on the Mackenzie River downstream of Fort Simpson;
• Mackenzie River ice is still stationary at Tulita as of yesterday at 13:00;
• Water levels under ice are 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) have now dropped by 5 m since the peak on the morning of May 12;
  • Satellite imagery from this morning indicates that there is no ice remaining in the East or West Channels;
  • Water levels are now indicative of open water conditions;
  • The provisional water level reading as of 12:00 (~7.9 m) is the highest open water level on record;
• Upstream gauges on the main stem of the Hay River continue to slowly increase as snowmelt water continues to move through the basin;
  • It is expected that water levels near the Town of Hay River and K’atl’odeeche First Nation will likely continue to slowly rise over the next few days, however the rate of rise is much lower with ice free conditions, and will not approach the ice-induced water levels from earlier this week;   
• Moderate precipitation is expected in the Hay River basin over the weekend;
  • This precipitation event will likely maintain current high water levels;
• Refer to the Town of Hay River website for the most up-to-date information, as well as webcam images of current conditions.

Above – Hay River near the Town of Hay River hydrometric gauge photo on May 14 at 12:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.

 

Liard river

Current status

• There is now open water throughout the entire stretch of the Liard River in the NWT;

• Climate models are forecasting a severe precipitation event over the next five days;

  • Localized amounts of between 100-150 mm are forecast;

  • Most of the precipitation is forecast in the South Nahanni River basin where snowpack remains;

  • It is uncertain at this time if precipitation will fall as rain or snow;

  • If most of the precipitation falls as rain, it will speed up the melt of mountain snowpack and could result in rapidly rising water levels on the Liard and west bank tributaries.

 

Slave River/Great Slave Lake/Dehcho (Mackenzie River)

Current status

• Ice broke at Jean Marie River as of this morning;

  • Water levels rose initially but have since receded;

  • Ice from the Mackenzie River is breaking up and moving well at Fort Simpson with no threat for ice jam conditions;

• Mackenzie River ice is still stationary at Tulita as of yesterday at 13:00;

• Under ice water levels downstream on the Mackenzie River (Norman Wells and beyond) are starting to rise, as is normal for this time of year.

Above – Dehcho (Mackenzie River) at Strong Point hydrometric gauge photo from May 14 at 12:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.

 

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.

Above – Peel River at Fort McPherson hydrometric gauge photo from May 13 at 14:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.