(UPDATE DECEMBER 22):
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has ended the Ice Jam Watch for the Peace River from the Town of Peace River to the Highway 986 bridge.
The secondary ice cover in place through the Town of Peace River broke up overnight from December 21 to December 22. The ice cover ran downstream, consolidating against the primary Peace River ice cover near Berreth Flats (approximately 20 km downstream of the Town). An ice jam was not formed through the Town of Peace River as the ice cover collapsed.
The River Ice Advisory for freeze-up at the Town of Peace River remains in place. River levels in the Peace River at the Town of Peace River will begin to rise today in response to the approaching ice front. Freeze-up at the Town of Peace River is expected from the evening of December 22 to December 23.
The new ice cover may be unstable as it forms, and water levels between the Town of Peace River and the Hwy 986 Bridge could fluctuate rapidly with an ice cover consolidation.
When freeze-up occurs at the Town of Peace River, it is typical for the water level to rise between 2.5 to 3.5 m.
Previous:
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has issued an Ice Jam Watch for the Peace River from the Highway 986 bridge to the Town of Peace River.
A secondary ice cover has formed upstream of the main Peace River ice front. This ice cover formed at the Highway 2 bridge at the Town of Peace River on December 20, and was observed advancing past the Smoky River confluence in the early morning of December 21.
This secondary ice cover is unstable, and is expected to collapse overnight from December 21 to December 22. The consolidating ice cover is expected to push downstream to meet the main Peace River ice cover.
As this collapse occurs, a freeze-up ice jam may form in the Town of Peace River. A freeze-up ice jam would cause water levels to rise rapidly; however, the risk of flooding due to a freeze-up ice jam is low.
The main Peace River ice front was located near the Mercer Peace River facility on December 20, approximately 20 km downstream of the Town of Peace River.
Stay away from the river.
If you see potential flooding, call our 24/7 Public Works emergency line at 780-624-3085.
We will have staff on river watch monitoring the conditions.
