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 15, 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 couple 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 (~8 m) is the highest open water level on record;

• Ice continues to move well on the Mackenzie River downstream of Fort Simpson;

• Water levels on the Mackenzie River at Norman Wells increased by ~ 2.5 m yesterday;

  • This rate of increase is normal for this time of year;

• 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 but ice has not yet moved (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;

  • Satellite imagery from this morning confirms that there is no ice remaining in the East or West Channels;

  • Water levels are indicative of open water conditions;

  • The provisional water level reading as of 12:00 (~8 m) is the highest open water level on record;

• Upstream gauges on the main stem of the Hay River continue to slowly increase as residual snowmelt water moves through the basin and to the river;

• 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.

Mackenzie River

Current status

• Ice broke at Jean Marie River yesterday morning;

  • Ice is moving well down the Mackenzie River;

  • There is a stretch of solid ice about 40 km upstream of Jean Marie River;

  • Provisional water levels on the Mackenzie River at Strong Point (~30 km downstream of Jean Marie River) peaked at 10.5 m yesterday morning and have been steadily declining since;

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

• Optical satellite imagery shows solid ice on the Great Bear River and the Mackenzie River at Tulita as of Friday (May 13) midday;

  • Some reports have indicated ice was starting to break up as of yesterday (May 14) in Tulita;

• Water levels on the Mackenzie River at Norman Wells increased by ~ 2.5 m yesterday;

  • This rate of increase is typical for break up.

Above – Dehcho (Mackenzie River) at Strong Point hydrometric gauge photo from May 15 at 11:00. 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.