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 16, 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;

  • It is expected that water levels at the gauge site will likely continue to slowly rise over the next couple days as residual snowmelt water moves through the basin, 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 May 12th 12:00 (8.12 m) is the highest open water level on record.

• Ice continues to move well on the Mackenzie River downstream of Jean Marie River, and downstream of Fort Simpson;

• Reports have indicated Mackenzie River water levels were rising in Tulita;

• Ice on the Mackenzie River has cleared in front of Norman Wells overnight;

  • Currently water levels (12:00) are rising slowly, but remain near average;

• Ice on the Mackenzie River at Fort Good Hope is started to shift; appears to be unchanged at the gauge location near Tsiigehtchic as of 10:00.

• Water levels under ice are increasing further downstream on the Mackenzie River and in the Mackenzie River Delta, as is normal for this time of year;

• Water levels on the Peel River near Fort McPherson are increasing at a normal rate, and river ice remains intact (as of 12:00).

 

Hay River

Current status

• Provisional water levels at the Hay River near Hay River gauge (just upstream of town) dropped by 5 m since the peak on the morning of May 12;

  • The provisional water level reading as of 12:00 (8.12 m) is the highest open water level on record;

• While the gauge on the main stem of the Hay River at the border continues to slowly increase as residual snowmelt water moves through the basin and to the river, the gauge further south on the Hay River near Meander River has levelled off;

• Refer to the Town of Hay River website for the most up-to-date information, as well as webcam images of current conditions.

 

Dehcho Region

Current Status

• Some flooding was reported in Sambaa K’e yesterday afternoon;

  • Optical imagery indicates that ice on the Island River likely impeded river flow to the lake, backing water up into the community, but further verification required.

Above – Optical imagery taken at 13:01 MDT on May 15th over the community of Sambaa K’e. Obtained from Planet Explorer. The image shows open water (upstream) and ice (downstream) on the Island River.

 

Mackenzie River

Current Status

• According to optical imagery from yesterday at ~13:00, the Mackenzie River near Jean Marie River was relatively clear of ice, with some ice moving downstream in the area;

  • Provisional water levels on the Mackenzie River at Strong Point (~30 km downstream of Jean Marie River) have remained steady since yesterday;

    • This peak was more than 5 m lower than the peak from the 2021 (last year) flooding event at Jean Marie River;

• Reports have indicated Mackenzie River water levels were rising in Tulita;

• Ice on the Mackenzie River has cleared in front of Norman Wells overnight;

  • Unsteady water levels on the Mackenzie River at Norman Wells are an indication of local ice movement on the river;

  • Currently water levels (12:00) are rising slowly, but remain near average;

• Ice on the Mackenzie River at Fort Good Hope is started to shift, appears to be unchanged at the gauge location near Tsiigehtchic as of 10:00.

Above – Mackenzie River at Fort Good Hope hydrometric gauge photo from May 16 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 continue to rise;

  • Water levels were much higher than average over winter, but lower than last year.

• Radar imagery of the Peel River indicates predominantly intact ice with some areas of open water forming.

 

Above – Peel River at Fort McPherson hydrometric gauge photo from May 16 at 09:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.