The extremely cold temperatures impacting the Winnipeg River basin are expected to let up in the next couple of days. Very little snow fell over the last week. A precipitation system coupled with warmer temperatures is forecast to bring snow and rain showers to the southern half of the basin over the weekend. Snowpack conditions remain close to or slightly below normal for this time of year.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.47 m (1058.0 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 1 cm (0.4 in) over the last week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 250 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.07 m (1164.9 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 9 cm (3.5 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 7 to 9 cm (2.5 to 3.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 360 m³/s, and continues to gradually decline with the falling lake level. No outflow changes are scheduled.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.48 m (1058 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level changed little over the last week and is expected to decline less than 1 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 250 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.16 m (1165.22 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow has been adjusted to 360 m³/s, it will gradually decline with the falling lake level. No outflow changes are scheduled.

Note: The LWCB updated its reference percentile set on February 4^th, 2025. This does not impact observed lake levels, but may impact their percentile rank.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.49 m (1058.01 ft), a 15^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level changed little over the last week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 250 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.24 m (1165.47 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 8 to 9 cm (3 to 3.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow has been adjusted to 360 m³/s as it gradually declines with the falling lake level. No outflow changes are scheduled.

Note: The LWCB updated its reference percentile set on February 4^th, 2025. This does not impact observed lake levels, but may impact their percentile rank.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board updates its percentile set once every 5 years. As of today, all data products will reference new percentiles computed for the period of 1991 to 2020. Maximum and minimum records have also been updated to extend to 2023 and will now be updated annually.

Percentile sets for all stations, and more information on percentiles, are available on our Percentile Data Page.

The basin has been receiving moderate amounts of snowfall and experiencing seasonal temperatures. With levels on both lakes declining steadily and on track to meet spring targets, no outflow changes are planned next week.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.49 m (1058.03 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 1.2 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain stable over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow was reduced to 250 m³/s today, with no further changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.32 m (1165.75 ft), a 25^th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 7 to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 380 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

Note: The LWCB updated its reference percentile set on February 4^th, 2025. This does not impact observed lake levels, but may impact their percentile rank.

Conditions in the Winnipeg River basin remain drier than normal, although some snowfall is expected over the next week. Maps of modelled snow water equivalent (SWE), the amount of water in the snow, indicate that there are approximately 40 to 60 mm (1.5 to 2.5 in) of SWE in the snowpack . This is close to or slightly below normal, with measurements of SWE taken by Ontario Power Generation on January 15^th coming in at 66% to 112% of normal.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.50 m (1058.07 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the last week and with the scheduled outflow increases, is expected to remain stable over the next week.

With inflow to Lake of the Woods very low for this time of year, outflow reductions are scheduled next week to help slow the rate of level decline on the lake. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will be reduced to 275 m³/s, on Monday, January 27^th and to 250 m³/s on Thursday, January 30^th. These outflow reductions will cause levels on the Winnipeg River to decline by:

• 10 cm (4 in) below the Norman Dam
• 4 cm (1.5 in) at the Dalles
• no change at Minaki

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.41 m (1166.02 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 8 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 6.5 cm to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul outflow is 380 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

An Alberta clipper is expected to impact the basin on January 17^th. Snowfall amounts in the 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 in) range are expected, with the highest accumulation north of the English River. Following the storm, temperatures are expected to drop. With levels on both lakes declining steadily, no outflow changes are planned this week.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.54 m (1058.18 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2.2 cm (1 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 1.5 to 2 cm ( 0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow remains 300 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.49 m (1166.30 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 7 cm (2.5 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 in) over the next week. A mechanical issue at the Ear Falls Dam impacted outflow early in the week. On Wednesday, January 15^th, Lac Seul outflow was restored to the authorized 380 m³/s, and no additional flow changes are scheduled.

Over the last few weeks, the Winnipeg River basin experienced a swing in conditions, with a warm-up accompanied by moderate amounts of precipitation at the end of December, followed by much drier and colder conditions in the first week of January. Forecasts indicate a return to seasonal temperatures and a chance for flurries over the next week. Snow depth measurements across the basin indicate slightly below normal snow accumulation for this time of year.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.56 m (1058.25 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2.5 cm (1 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 1.5 to 2.5 cm ( 0.5 to 1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow remains at 300 m³/s, with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.56 m (1166.53 ft), a 20^th percentile level, below the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 7.5 cm (3 in) over the last week and is expected to decrease by 6 cm to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 in) over the next week. Due to the declining lake level providing less head at the Ear Falls dam, Lac Seul outflow has dropped to 368 m³/s. To maintain river flows and consistent lake level decline, an outflow increase to 380 m³/s is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15^th.

The Winnipeg River basin received moderate amounts of precipitation over the past week with up to 15 cm of snow across the North of the basin and up to 10 cm in the South of the basin. There is minimal precipitation in the forecast with less than 5 cm of snow across the basin.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.63 m (1058.49 ft), a 30^th percentile level within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined 1 cm (<0.5 ft) over the last week and is expected to decrease 1 to 2 cm ( <0.5 to 1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 300 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.78 m (1167.26 ft), a 25^th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level decreased 5 cm (2 in) over the last and is expected to decrease by 6 cm to 7 cm (2.5 to 3 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with a scheduled increase to 385 m³/s Thursday December 19^th.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board and Secretariat wish everyone the best this Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Between Christmas and New Years Day the LWCB website will not be updated. The Noticeboard Update will resume on January 9^th.

The Winnipeg River basin received moderate amounts of precipitation over the past week with up to 25 cm of snow across most of the basin. There is minimal precipitation in the forecast with less than 5 cm of snow across the basin.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.64 m (1058.53 ft), a 30^th percentile level within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level remained stable over the last week and is expected to decrease 1 to 2 cm ( <0.5 to 1 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 300 m³/s with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 355.83 m (1167.42 ft), a 25^th percentile level for this time of year. The lake level decreased 2 cm (0.5 in) over the last and is expected to decrease by 2 cm to 3 cm (1 to 1.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 350 m³/s with no changes scheduled.