Despite dry fall in places, most NWT water levels are up year on year

Water levels in the NWT are generally higher than they were last year heading into winter, although some lakes and rivers have dropped year on year.

In a bulletin issued last week, the territorial government said most large lakes and rivers have risen compared to the late fall of 2025.

The Slave, Peel, Taltson and Arctic Red rivers are all reported above average for the time of year. Great Slave Lake’s water level is now average, an increase on recent years.

By contrast, water levels remain well below average on Great Bear Lake, Great Bear River and La Martre River. The Snare River’s level has dropped since last year and is now rated well below average.

Around Yellowknife, Prosperous Lake, the Cameron River and Prelude Lake have all seen their levels drop year on year and are considered below average.

Despite Yellowknife’s ultra-dry October, the picture for precipitation heading into winter is mixed.

The GNWT reported that October precipitation was above average in Inuvik, average in Norman Wells and below average in Fort Liard, Hay River and Fort Smith.

In northern BC and Alberta, where rain and snow fall into basins that ultimately flow into the NWT, precipitation was “generally average to above average,” the territory stated, with a couple of exceptions.

Between November and January, based on federal forecasts, the GNWT is expecting below-average precipitation over the western Sahtu, Dehcho and South Slave, with “near to slightly above average precipitation” in other parts of the territory.