Author(s): Alyssa Sandeman; Jennifer Nafziger; Ryan Connon; Anna Coles; Shawne Kokelj
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: River ice; Spring breakup; Extreme events; Flooding; Ice jam; Hay River
Abstract: The 2022 spring river ice breakup and associated flooding along the Hay River (Denesųliné: Xátl'odehche “river with grassy banks”) in northwestern Canada was an historic and significant event. A series of ice jams resulted in catastrophic flooding of communities along the Hay River. This paper presents a summary and chronological documentation of the 2022 breakup of over 400 km of the Hay River from the Hay-Zama Lakes area to Great Slave Lake. We provide a brief description of the winter conditions preceding the spring breakup, the meteorological conditions during breakup, and the progression of the river ice breakup. We discuss the magnitude of this event in the historical context, and suggest potential directions for future research.
Year: 2024