The current level of Lake of the Woods is 324.10 m (1063.3 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 1.5 cm due to the heavy rainfall on July 19th. The lake level is above the 2014 peak of 323.78 m (1062.29 ft) and is below the record peak since regulation began of 324.31 m (1064.0 ft), set in July of 1950. The dams in Kenora remain fully open. Over the next week, the lake level is expected to declined by 2 to 8 cm (1 to 3 in) with drier conditions in the forecast.
The significant rainfall of July 19th caused the level of the Winnpeg River to increase by 5 cm (2 in) directly below the Norman Dam, by 7.5 cm (3 in) at Minaki and by 13 cm (5 in) at Boundary Falls near the Manitoba border. These temporary level increases were caused by local inflows and levels are expected to decrease over the next week.
Upstream, the level of Rainy Lake is expected to return to the normal IJC-regulated range at the end of July. As the lake level declines, outflow from Rainy Lake is also falling, and much larger cuts are expected once the lake returns to normal summer levels. Barring a return to very wet weather, this should result in a much faster rate of decline at Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River towards the beginning of August.
The current level of Lac Seul is 356.72 m (1170.3 ft), 80th percentile level for this time of year. The level of the main body of Lac Seul changed little over the past week. With some rainfall in the forecast, the lake level is expected to remain stable over the next week with possible changes of +4 cm or – 2.5 cm (+1.5 in or – 1 in). Lac Seul authorized outflow is 400 m³/s with no changes scheduled.
Manitoba Hydro has provided the following forecast for the Winnipeg River through the Whiteshell.