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

• NWT Water Monitoring Bulletin – May 7, 2025 at 12:30

Current Status:

• Break-up continues to progress along the Mackenzie River between Fort Providence and Fort Simpson.
  • Sheet and rubble ice have continued to move downstream past Fort Simpson.
  • Some small sections of rubble and sheet ice remain upstream of Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie River. River ice is sitting in place downstream of the island of Fort Simpson.
  • Water level measured using the Village of Fort Simpson gauge has increased slightly since yesterday.
    • The water level is currently at 6.9 m. For reference, the water level exceeded 15 m during the flood event of 2021.
• Break-up has been progressing along the Liard River;
  • Rubble and sheet ice started to move past the Fort Simpson airport yesterday. Rubble ice was sitting in place overnight due to a jam on the Liard River near the mouth (where it meets the Mackenzie River).
    • The ice jam has released as of 12:00 today.
• Average to above average temperatures are forecasted for today and tomorrow, so continued ice movement and break-up is anticipated on the Liard River and the Mackenzie River.