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 5, 2023

Current status – NWT 

• Ice on the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson began moving this morning at about 08:30;
  • This ice was part of a large ice jam that was building on the Mackenzie River above the confluence with the Liard River;
• Ice on the Liard River at the ferry crossing has started to push in the centre of the channel as of 11:00;
• The water level on the Mackenzie River at the Village of Fort Simpson gauge is approximately 10.0 m (as of 14:30) and is rising;
  • Real time water level data are from the Village of Fort Simpson are available here
  • The water level on the Mackenzie River will be dependent on how the ice clears downstream of Fort Simpson and when ice from the Liard River moves in;

• Warmer than seasonal temperatures will continue for the southern Dehcho region (lower Liard and upper Mackenzie basins) through the weekend and into next week;
• The Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions have experienced a colder-than-normal spring;
• Although break up is not yet imminent, early indicators show that there is an increased potential for flooding in the Peel and Arctic Red river basins;
  • This increased potential stems from highest on record over-winter water levels, high precipitation last summer/fall, high snowpack, and a colder-than-normal spring;
  • The maximum extent of spring break up water levels will be dependent on weather conditions over the coming weeks;
  • More information for land users in the basins is available here.

Current Status – Liard River

• Ice on the Liard River is moving well past Fort Liard;
• Ice has started to push in the middle of the channel on the Liard River at the Fort Simpson ferry crossing (as of 11:00);
• Ice on the Liard River near Fort Simpson has remained in place because the low inflows from tributaries were not sufficient to lift the ice and move it downstream;
• The southern Dehcho region will continue to receive unseasonably warm weather through the weekend and into next week.

Current Status –Mackenzie River

• Ice began moving on the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson at about 08:30 this morning;
  • This ice was from a large ice jam that developed on the Mackenzie River above Fort Simpson;
    • The jam extended approximately 60 km upstream from the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers;
  • In most years, ice from the Liard River breaks before ice from the Mackenzie River;
• The water level on the Mackenzie River at the Village of Fort Simpson gauge is approximately 10.0 m (as of 14:30) and is rising;
  • According to the Village of Fort Simpson, flood watch commences at 12.5 m;
• Water levels in Fort Simpson during break up will be dependent on how the ice clears downstream of Fort Simpson, and when ice on the Liard River breaks;
• Warm temperatures in the region will soften river ice and expedite break up.