Environmental scientists with the territory’s Environment and Climate Change department reported that break-up is nearly complete along the Mackenzie River and Peel River with break up about to begin in the Beafort Delta.
They said as of yesterday’s measures, the Mackenzie River at Tsiigehtchic is rising under the ice. Water levels are also rising underneath intact ice in the Beaufort Delta.
The authors of the latest spring break up report said that water level measured on the Mackenzie River at Norman Wells had peaked at 9.7 meters on Monday by about midnight and has since receded.
graph shows daily average levels relative to the previous 20 years (https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/sites/ecc/files/resources/spring_break_up_report_2026_05_13.pdf)
The measure of 9.7 meters aligns with what is considered an average freshet peak.
Scientists are forecasting average to slightly above average temperatures for the rest of the week to May 19, which would bring continued break-up along the Mackenzie River and the Peel River, also propelling further break up in the Beaufort Delta region.
