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On this page, Cabin Radio is tracking the 2025 spring breakup season. Bookmark the page to get the latest on breakup as it progresses through the NWT.
Information on this page is driven by regular updates from territorial government hydrologists alongside updates from local governments and others where appropriate.
We’ll provide summaries of what is happening as they arrive plus links to our sources.
Sahtu and Beaufort Delta communities are now the focus of this year’s updates, with the risk having passed for the South Slave and Dehcho.
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The territorial government’s broad outlook for the 2025 breakup season has suggested that the risk in most communities is lower than average. However, the territory cautions that the likes of ice jams can trigger floods even in low water years.
Wednesday, June 3 – 11:00am
The NWT government said on Thursday morning that flood risk has passed for Aklavik for the 2025 season.
It said the ice front on the Peel channel had moved past Aklavik on June 1 and was approximately 20km downstream of the community by Tuesday evening.
The NWT government said breakup is progressing in the lowest sections of the Beaufort Delta.
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It said the water level on the main channel below the Raymond channel peaked at 15.3m over the weekend and has since receded to 14.5m.
Radar imagery indicates rubble and sheet ice remain on the the downstream sections of the Peel and main channels. Meanwhile the water level is on the Napoiak channel is continuing to rise.
The territorial government said this will be its last breakup report for the 2025 season.
Tuesday, May 27 – 6:50am
The GNWT reported on Monday afternoon that the water level on the Peel River above Fort McPherson had “risen by over two metres in the last 12 hours and by over three metres over the weekend.”
Hydrologists said cabin owners along the Peel River and Fort McPherson residents “should be aware of potential for high water along the Peel River during this break-up period.”
According to Monday’s update, a colder-than-normal spring in the area has delayed snowmelt and ice degradation, resulting “in a mechanical break-up” – collisions between blocks of river ice, which can be a cause of ice jams.
“Further changes in water level will depend on how the ice moves down the Peel River and any strong ice jam formation,” the territorial government stated.
Breakup is expected to reach Aklavik in the coming days.
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“Warmer than average temperatures forecast for later this week in the Beaufort Delta will accelerate snowmelt and break-up progression,” Monday’s update concluded.
Friday, May 23 – 5:30am
The NWT government’s latest bulletin states that breakup is progressing in the Sahtu. No areas of concern have been noted so far.
“Large sections of rubble ice started to push downstream past Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope last night,” the GNWT stated on Thursday evening. “Ice has been jamming and releasing in this section of the Mackenzie River this morning. Open water sections are growing between Fort Good Hope and Tsiigehtchic.”
The water level of the Mackenzie at Norman Wells peaked on Wednesday evening and has since receded, the GNWT stated, well below levels recorded in the high-water year of 2021.
“Average to above-average temperatures are expected for the rest of the week for the Sahtu region, which will result in continued melt of river ice and snow,” the territory’s bulletin concluded.
