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The NWT’s latest water monitoring bulletin says water levels across the territory are generally higher than this time last year and are “showing some recovery” following a years long drought.
Many lakes and rivers are higher than last year but still at water levels that are below average. Only the Slave River and Tazin River have recorded water levels that are well above average for this time of year.
“Water levels are generally higher than levels observed at this time last year, across most of the large lakes and rivers in the NWT, with some exceptions,” the water monitoring bulletin said.
The Coppermine River, Snare River, Great Bear River, Great Bear Lake, Hay River and La Martre River are well below average with the latter four water bodies recording water levels that are similar to or higher than last year.
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Prosperous Lake, Yamba River and Cameron River are all recording water levels below average. Levels on the Cameron River are similar to this time last year.
While the Taltson River, Hoarfrost River, Liard River and South Nahanni River all have average water levels into August, the levels are lower than last year.
The Lockhart River is average with water levels similar to last year, while Great Slave Lake, Mackenzie River, Arctic Red River and Peel River are average with water levels higher than last year.
The increase in water levels compared to last year is in part thanks to an above-average snow pack and “near to above normal precipitation” in July, the monitoring bulletin said.
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Fort Smith and Hay River saw average precipitation and above average July temperatures, while Fort Liard, Norman Wells and Inuvik had above average precipitation and below average temperatures. Yellowknife was the only community listed in the bulletin to experience below average precipitation.
The bulletin said precipitation in northern British Columbia and Alberta, the water sources that “strongly” influence NWT water levels, has been variable.
Looking into August and the coming months, the Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts average to above average precipitation in the NWT, particularly in the Mackenzie Mountains, Western Sahtu and Dehcho. It also predicte warmer than average temperatures in the Dehcho, North Slave and South Slave.
El Nino’s effects on precipitation in the NWT are still unclear, but the bulletin said its effects on the climate are expected to intensify in the fall.
