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2024.05.03 Conditions Update and Levels Forecast

With the precipitation observed early in the week, tributaries in the southern part of the basin have started rising. Inflows to the major lakes are also increasing as a result. There is some rain forecast across the basin over the next few days before the forecast becomes dryer and inflows could potentially decrease.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.54 m (1058.20 ft), a 35th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 5 cm (2 in) over the last week and is expected to increase 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) over the next week, depending on precipitation amounts. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.88 m (1164.30 ft), a 35th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. Lake inflows and levels continue to increase. The lake level increased by 13 cm (5 in) over the past week and is expected to increase by 7 to 11 cm (2.8 to 4.3 in). Lac Seul authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes currently scheduled.

2024.04.25 Conditions Update and Levels Forecast

The Winnipeg River basin received more precipitation than was expected over the last week, especially in the North and East.

There are two systems in the forecast potentially bringing more precipitation, with totals for the upcoming week between 30 and 40 mm. Much of this precipitation is expected to fall Friday April 26th through Saturday April 27th with more coming early next week.

Tributary flows, and lake inflows and levels have started rising into the normal range. The rain has helped the basin recover from the below average snowpack and lack of runoff from snowmelt. However, continued rainfall into May and June will be required to sustain normal flows and levels throughout the spring and summer.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.48 m (1058.01 ft), a 40th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 2 cm (1 in) over the last week and is expected to increase 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4 in) over the next week, depending on precipitation amounts. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes scheduled.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.74 m (1163.85 ft), a 35th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. Lake inflows and levels increased rapidly over the last week in response to higher-than-expected precipitation amounts. The lake level increased by 10 cm (4 in) over the past week and is expected to increase by 12 to 18 cm (5 to 7 in). Lac Seul authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes currently scheduled.

2024.04.18

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.46 m (1057.94 ft), a 35th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 3 cm (1.2 in) over the last week and is expected to increase 1 to 3 cm (0.4 to 1.2 in) over the next week, depending on precipitation amounts. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes scheduled..

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.64 m (1163.52 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is at the bottom of the normal range for this time of year. The lake level increased by 5 cm (2 in) over the past week and is expected to remain relatively stable over the next week depending on precipitation amounts. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes currently scheduled.

2024.04.11 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.43 m (1057.84 ft), a 30th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level increased by 1 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain relatively stable, increasing by up to 6 cm (2.4 in) over the next week, depending on precipitation amounts. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow was decreased to 150 m3/s on Wednesday, April 10th.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.56 m (1163.25 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is at the bottom of the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 3 cm (1.2 in) over the past week and is expected to remain relatively stable, increasing up to 3 cm (1.2 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes currently scheduled.

2024.04.04 Level Forecast and Outflow Reductions

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.42 m (1057.8 ft), a 35th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 1 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain relatively stable, increasing by up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to 175 m3/s on Monday, April 8th and to 150 m3/s on Wednesday, April 10th.

Each of these flow changes will cause the level of the Winnipeg River to decrease by approximately 3 cm (1 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and by 1 cm (0.5 in) above the Dalles. The level at Minaki will not be affected by these flow changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.59 m (1163.35 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is at the bottom of the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 1 cm (0.5 in) over the past week and is expected to remain relatively stable, increasing up to 1 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 150 m3/s with no changes currently scheduled.

2024.03.27 Level Forecast and Outflow Reductions

The Winnipeg River basin is experiencing a temporary return to winter conditions. Temperatures over the past week were much colder than normal, with daytime highs ranging from -4 to -10 degrees Celsius, and over the last couple days, a Colorado Low slowly travelled across the basin, bringing 10 to 25 cm of snow. These conditions have caused a delay in spring inflows and at the current rates of outflow, levels on both Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul continue to decline. To slow or stop this decline and prepare the lakes for refill, small outflow reductions will be scheduled this week and next.

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.43 m (1057.8 ft), a 40th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain relatively stable, declining by up to 1.5 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow will decrease to 225 m3/s on Thursday, March 28th and to 200 m3/s on Tuesday, April 2nd.

Each of these flow changes will cause the level of the Winnipeg River to decrease by approximately 5 cm (2 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and by 2 cm (0.5 in) above the Dalles. The level at Minaki will not be affected by these flow changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.60 m (1163.4 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is at the bottom of the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 4 cm (1.5 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 1 to 2 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow will decrease to 150 m3/s on Thursday, March 28th.


The LWCB Basin Data page will not be updated on Friday, March 29th (Good Friday is a holiday in Canada) or on Monday, April 1st (Easter Monday is also a holiday). Daily data updates and publication will resume on Tuesday, April 2nd.

2024.03.21 Level Forecast

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.4 m (1057.9 ft), a 45th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain relatively stable, declining by up to 1.5 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 250 m3/s with no changes scheduled at this time.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.63 m (1163.5 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is at the bottom of the normal range for this time of year. The lake level declined by 3 cm (1 in) over the past week and is expected to remain relatively stable, declining by up to 3 cm (1 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 175 m3/s with no changes scheduled at this time.

2024.03.13 Level Forecast and Spring Regulation Strategy

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.46 m (1057.9 ft), a 45th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain relatively stable, holding steady or declining 1 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is schedule to decrease to 275 m3/s on Thursday, March 14th, and to 250 m3/s on Monday, March 18th.

Each of these flow changes will cause the level of the Winnipeg River to decrease by approximately 5 cm (2 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and by 2 cm (0.5 in) above the Dalles. The level at Minaki will not be affected by these flow changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.66 m (1163.58 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is below normal 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 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 175 m3/s with no changes scheduled as this time.

Spring Regulation Strategy

On March 5, the LWCB held its spring Regulation Meeting in Kenora, attended by specific interest groups and resource agencies, and adopted its Spring Regulation Strategy. The strategy outlines regulation targets for various inflow conditions for the period of March to the end of June. The Secretariat presented data and statistics on the extremely low snowpack, unusual winter rain events and record breaking high air temperatures experienced over the winter. Many meeting attendees provided observations on the mild winter conditions and voiced their concern for dry conditions persisting into the spring.

For Lake of the Woods, the strategy targets a normal level for end of March, slightly higher than the target last year, to maintain storage in case of continued dry conditions. Although there is some snowpack locally around Lake of the Woods, the Rainy-Namakan basin upstream has very little to no snow on the ground. Spring outflows from Rainy Lake are expected to remain low, providing less inflow than usual to Lake of the Woods for the lake to refill this spring.

For Lac Seul, the strategy targets mid-April levels that are slightly lower than the preferences for fish spawning, due to the lack of inflow over the winter and persisting dry conditions since last year in this part of the basin. Inflows to Lac Seul have been below normal over the course of the winter and the snowpack is lower than or close to normal in some areas. Outflows have been reduced over the month of February to stop lake level drawdown and hedge against the risk of low spring inflows.

2024.03.07 Level Forecast

A significant precipitation event hit the basin late Saturday March 2nd with the highest amounts of precipitation, in the form of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain, observed North of Atikokan. Precipitation continued through Monday March 4th with totals at Kenora of 6 cm and at Ear Falls of 7.7 cm. As temperatures fluctuated during the event some of this precipitation came in the form of rain, especially for the southern regions of the basin.

Precipitation Totals March 2nd

Precipitation Totals March 2nd and 3rd

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.48 m (1058.0 ft), a 45th percentile level, within the normal range for this time of year. The average lake level declined by 2 cm (0.5 in) over the last week and is expected to remain relatively stable, holding steady or declining 1 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lake of the Woods authorized outflow is 350 m3/s. Outflow reductions to 325 m3/s and 300 m3/s are scheduled for Friday March 8th and Monday March 11th respectively.

Each of these flow changes will cause the level of the Winnipeg River to decrease by approximately 5 cm (2 in) directly downstream of the Norman Dam and by 2 cm (0.5 in) above the Dalles. The level at Minaki will not be affected by these flow changes.

The current level of Lac Seul is 354.71 m (1163.75 ft), a 25th percentile level, which is below normal for this time of year. The lake level declined by 4 cm (1.5 in) over the past week and is expected to decline by 1 to 2 cm (0.5 in) over the next week. Lac Seul authorized outflow is 225 m3/s with an outflow decrease to 175 m3/s scheduled for Friday March 8th.