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 25, 2023

Current status – NWT 

• The water level at Aklavik is holding just below 15 m (as of 11:30 this morning);

• Data transmission from the gauge was interrupted yesterday, but it appears that the water level has been fairly stable for the past 48 hours;
• There is now open water extending more than 50 km downstream of Aklavik.

• The water level at Inuvik has been rising for the past 24 hours due to a large ice jam on the main channel;

• The water level in Inuvik is 15.96 m and has continued to rise over the past 24 hours;
  • The peak last year in Inuvik was 17.06 m and was the highest on record.