September 2022

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.99 m (1059.7 ft), 70^th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 11 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 9 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods outflow is scheduled to decrease to 775 m³/s on Friday, September 30^th and to 700 m³/s on Tuesday, October 4^th.

The levels along the Winnipeg River are expected to decline with each flow change by 22 cm (9 in) below the Norman Dam, by 16 cm (6 in) above the Dalles and by 14 cm (5 in) at Minaki. The resulting total weekly drop will be 46 cm (18 in) below Norman Dam and 30 cm (12 in) above the Dalles and at Minaki.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.29 m (1168.9 ft), a 40th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 250 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

Manitoba Hydro has provided the following forecast for the Winnipeg River through the Whiteshell: Water levels & flows

The Board has published a three-part video series covering the historic 2022 flooding in the Winnipeg River drainage basin, including answers to frequent questions about the event. These videos are available on the 2022 Flooding Info page (www.lwcb.ca/noticeboard/2022-flood-info/).

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.03 m (1059.8 ft), 75^th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 13 cm (4 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 8 cm (3 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods outflow is scheduled to decrease to 850 m³/s on Tuesday, September 27^th and then to 775 m³/s on Friday, September 30^th.

The levels along the Winnipeg River are expected to decline with each flow change by 23 cm (9 in) below the Norman Dam and by 16 cm (6 in) above the Dalles and at Minaki. The resulting total weekly drop will be 46 cm (18 in) below Norman Dam and 31 cm (12 in) above the Dalles and at Minaki.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.30 m (1169 ft), a 40th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 5 cm (1.5 in) over the past week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 250 m³/s on Tuesday, September 27^th.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.10 m (1060.04 ft), 80^th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 10 cm (4 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 11 to 12 cm (4 to 5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods outflow is scheduled to decrease to 925 m³/s on Friday, September 23d.

As a result of this flow change, levels along the Winnipeg River are expected to decline by 23 cm (9 in) below the Norman Dam, by 17 cm (7 in) above the Dalles and by 14 cm (5 in) at Minaki.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.31 m (1169 ft), a 40th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 6 cm (2.4 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 11 to 12 cm (4 to 5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 300 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

Manitoba Hydro has provided the following forecast for the Winnipeg River through the Whiteshell.

The third and last installment on 2022 Flooding in the Winnipeg River Basin is now available. See the 2022 Flood Info page for details. https://lwcb.ca/noticeboard/2022-flood-info/

After two weeks of very dry weather, the next few days will be much wetter for most parts of the Winnipeg River basin with a low-pressure system slowly tracking through Northwestern Ontario. Over the next few days, precipitation totals are expected to reach at least 50 mm for the majority of the basin, with some locally higher amounts of rainfall possible. This precipitation will cause tributary flows to increase temporarily and will add inflow to the major lakes.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.20 m (1060.4 ft), 90^th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 16 cm (5 in) over the past week. The forecasted precipitation will not stop the lake level decline, but will simply slow the rate of decline to 4 to 11 cm (1 to 4 in) over the next week. The scheduled Lake of the Woods outflow decrease to 1000 m³/s has been postponed to Tuesday, September 20^th.

Over the next few days, Winnipeg River levels may remain stable with local inflow increases caused by the precipitation. However, by Monday with the outflow reduction from Lake of the Woods, the levels along the Winnipeg River are expected to decline by 18 cm (7 in) below the Norman Dam, by 14 cm (5 in) above the Dalles and by 11 cm (4 in) at Minaki with this outflow reduction.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.36 m (1169.1 ft), a 40th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 4 cm (1 in) over the past week and with the forecasted precipitation is expected to remain stable or increase by up to 5 cm (2 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 300 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

An additional Public Information Session has been added to the schedule for next week. On Wednesday, September 21^st a session will be held in Morson, ON from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at the Morson Community Hall.

The Board is publishing a three-part video series covering the historic 2022 flooding in the Winnipeg River drainage basin. The second video, which reviews hydrology of the flooding and the Board’s regulation of Lake of the Woods outflow in the winter and spring, is now available on the 2022 Flood Info page (www.lwcb.ca/noticeboard/2022-flood-info/). The last installment, covering answers to frequently asked questions, will follow shortly.

Level Forecast

While Lake of the Woods has returned to the legislated operating range, it remains almost 30 cm (1 ft) above normal summer targets, while the Winnipeg River near Kenora is over 180 cm (6 ft) above normal summer levels. The Board has begun a series of regular outflow reductions from Lake of the Woods to target low-normal levels by the end of October for both Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River. These reductions will continue throughout the months of September and October unless wet conditions develop. With regular reductions in outflow, the river will see a gradual drop in levels, providing those along the river time to adjust their docks as the river falls. Given outflow cuts from Rainy Lake, increasing evaporation, and dry medium-range weather forecasts, the level of Lake of the Woods will continue to see a sharp decline regardless of the outflow reductions. This approach is covered in the Board’s Regulation Strategy, adopted in August, which targets lower levels for both the lake and river by the end of October to assist with post-flood repairs.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.35 m (1060.8 ft), over 95^th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 15 cm (5 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 14-16 cm (5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods outflow is scheduled to decrease to 1075 m³/s on Tuesday, September 13^th and to 1000 m³/s on Thursday, September 15^th.

Winnipeg River levels are expected to decline by 22 cm (9 in) below the Norman Dam, by 18 cm (7 in) above the Dalles and by 14 cm (5 in) at Minaki following each flow reduction.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.40 m (1169.3 ft), a 40th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level declined by 6 cm (2 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 4 to 6 cm (1 to 2 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 300 m³/s on Monday, September 12^th.

Manitoba Hydro has provided the following forecast for the Winnipeg River through the Whiteshell.

The level of Lake of the Woods fell below 323.39 m (1061.0 ft) on Tuesday, September 6^th , returning to the legislated operating range 119 days after rising above it.

While Lake of the Woods has returned to the legislated operating range, it remains over 30 cm (1 ft) above normal summer targets, while the Winnipeg River near Kenora is over 180 cm (6 ft) above normal summer levels. The Board will begin a series of regular outflow reductions from Lake of the Woods to target low-normal levels by the end of October for both Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River. These reductions will begin on September 8^th and will continue throughout the months of September and October unless wet conditions develop. With regular reductions in outflow, the river will see a gradual drop in levels, providing those along the river time to adjust their docks as the river falls. Given outflow cuts from Rainy Lake, increasing evaporation, and dry medium-range weather forecasts, the level of Lake of the Woods will continue to see a sharp decline regardless of the outflow reductions. This approach is covered in the Board’s Regulation Strategy, adopted in August, which targets lower levels for both the lake and river by the end of October to assist with post-flood repairs.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.37 m (1060.9 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 14 cm (5 in) over the past week and is expected to decline at a rate of 15 cm (6 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods outflow is scheduled to decrease to 1150 m³/s on Thursday, September 8th.

With this outflow reduction, Winnipeg River levels are expected to decline by 17 cm (7 in) below the Norman Dam, by 14 cm (5 in) above the Dalles and by 10 cm (4 in) at Minaki.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.42 m (1169.3 ft), a 40th percentile level for this time of year. The level of the main body of Lac Seul declined by 6 cm (2 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 350 m³/s on Thursday, September 8^th.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 323.50 m (1061.3 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 12 cm (4 in) over the past week. Lake of the Woods is expected to decline at a rate of 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in) over the next week. The dams in Kenora remain fully open.

The Winnipeg River between Kenora and Minaki is expected to gradually fall between 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) over the next week as the Lake of the Woods level falls.

The current level of Lac Seul is 356.48 m (1169.5 ft), a 50th percentile level for this time of year. The level of the main body of Lac Seul declined by 7 cm (3 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 4 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is scheduled to decrease to 400 m³/s on Tuesday, September 6^th.