WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
+88.8 ft above typical
Finding the top signal on the water…
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics turns raw gauge readings from official hydrometric networks into something a person standing on a dock can actually use: is the water high or low for today, which way is it moving, and how unusual is this? This page explains where every number on the platform comes from and what we do to it along the way.
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Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Buffalo River at Highway No. 5 in Canada, NT, Canada, built from official government gauge data.
Buffalo River - a northern waterway shaped by subarctic rhythms.
The Buffalo River flows majestically at Highway No. 5, traversing the diverse landscape of the Southern Great Slave Lake - Buffalo watershed in the Northwest Territories. With a catchment area of approximately 18,000 square kilometers draining into this segment, the river is influenced by a subarctic climate marked by spring breakup and snowmelt, presenting a dynamic seasonal hydrographic pulse.
Water data from the Buffalo River at Highway No. 5 is essential for understanding the changing dynamics of this river system, especially given its three years of recorded data. The river is upstream of significant hydrological and ecological interactions within its catchment area. During spring, the melting snow and resultant flows can lead to fluctuations that must be closely monitored, particularly for potential ice-jam flooding. In contrast, the long winter months often see low water levels under the ice, impacting aquatic habitats and the wildlife that rely on them.
Regular readings from this station provide invaluable insights for local stakeholders, helping to manage flood risks and assess water quality, making it a vital resource for the surrounding communities. The daily gauge level reading informs all water-use decisions and environmental monitoring practices.
Today, the gauge for Buffalo River is at a specific elevation compared to the median historical data for this date, as recorded by the Water Survey of Canada. This comparative measurement offers a more nuanced understanding of current water conditions than raw elevations alone, highlighting the river's seasonal variability and informing ongoing environmental stewardship in the region.
Readings come from official government gauges and are rolled into daily records: the daily mean, high and low for every day on record. Each calendar day gets its own baseline from the full history, so the level you see is compared against what this specific date usually looks like rather than an annual average.