Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has issued a River Ice Advisory for the lower Smoky River and the Peace River from Sunny Valley, including the Town of Peace River to Sunny Valley.
Breakup has occurred on the Lower Smoky River and at Watino, and the early stages of breakup continue further downstream on the Smoky River. Though ice movement is a normal part of river ice breakup on these rivers, this is being monitored with extra vigilance due to the high snowpack and warming temperatures. Breakup of the Smoky River and its tributaries will accelerate as water levels rise with snowmelt runoff, which can contribute to the formation of ice jams.
The Peace River ice front is melting steadily near Dunvegan. A dynamic snowmelt driven breakup of the Smoky River ice before the ice front passes the Town of Peace River can initiate breakup of the Peace River and can increase the ice jam flood risk at the Town of Peace River and locations downstream.
The ice cover through the Town of Peace River remains intact, and there are no imminent flood concerns. This advisory remains in place to indicate changes in river ice conditions.
2026-04-18 04:25:36 PM
via https://rivers.alberta.ca/
All information on the spring melt and river break-up: www.peaceriver.ca/2026melt
