River Breakup Community update – May 1, 2026 – 4:30 p.m.

The ice jam near Fort McMurray is slowly melting in place. It has reduced in size by an additional 4 km since yesterday and is now approximately 15.5 km long. It’s expected to melt past the Clearwater/Athabasca River intersection later today.

Water levels on the Clearwater River remain elevated due to the ice jam and ongoing snowmelt. Residents may see moving water under the Athabasca River bridge, but the ice jam is still in place upstream and river breakup is still progressing.

Municipal and provincial officials continue to monitor river water levels and conditions.

“Before we can declare river breakup complete, we need to have zero risk of an ice jam and we aren’t there yet,” says Jody Butz, Director of Emergency Management. “It’s important to note that what the public is seeing is the ice jam getting smaller, but it is still firmly in place downstream of Fort McMurray.”

Please continue to stay clear of riverbanks & Draper alert remains in effect

It’s critical to stay away from riverbanks while river breakup continues. The river is unpredictable and sudden changes in water levels can make riverbanks very dangerous.

Draper remains under an Evacuation Alert. The Regional Emergency Coordination Centre (RECC) remains active and continues to monitor river breakup conditions closely. 

Provincial river forecasters continue to assess conditions, but starting tomorrow will monitor by drone. Community updates will scale back to once per day starting May 2 and will be issued after the update from river forecasters is received.

Water Treatment and Water Quality 

The Fort McMurray Water Treatment Plant is operating as normal. There are no concerns with water supply or water quality in Fort McMurray.  

Overland flooding is occurring in some low-lying areas, which is common during river breakup. The following areas are closed:  

•   Snye parking lot  
•  Morimoto Drive  
• Raphael Cree Park and boat launch  
• Tom Weber Park and boat launch  
• Sarah Holden Dog Park  

Important Safety reminders

•  Stay away from riverbanks, ice and flowing water.  
• Do not enter closed areas.  
•   Keep children and pets away from affected areas. 
• Getting too close puts you and first responders at risk.   

Other trusted information sources   

• Alberta Rivers - Check the provincial rivers website to find information on the status of all rivers in the province: https://rivers.alberta.ca/   

For questions or further information, please call Pulse at 780-743-7000 or 1-800-973-9663.  

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