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A major storm expected over the Mackenzie Mountains could dump a month’s rain over the Nahanni in a day, officials say.
In an advisory, the NWT government said 60 to 80 mm of rain is forecast to fall over a southern stretch of the Mackenzies from Wednesday afternoon until Friday morning.
“Over one month’s worth of rain could potentially fall within one day,” the advisory stated.
The GNWT said it’s not clear which river will see the greatest rainfall, but forecasts suggest the South Nahanni River basin could see “very significant” rain and water levels could rise by more than one metre if rainfall is concentrated in one basin.
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The territorial government said the storm could result in rapid rises in water levels and flows along the South Nahanni River, North Nahanni River, Root River or Redstone River, depending where rain ultimately falls.
If heavy rain falls in the South Nahanni basin as forecast, that could affect the South Nahanni River and the community of Nahanni Butte, including roads and drainage systems.
The GNWT advised residents in Nahanni Butte to monitor conditions and be ready for emergencies.
Anyone planning to be on the land is warned to be aware of the conditions, be prepared with communication methods before they leave and be prepared to leave their camp or cabin at short notice if flooding becomes imminent.
