River Breakup Community Update – May 2, 2026 – 6 p.m.
Ice jam continues to melt in place. Ice run flowing north expected to reach Fort McMurray tomorrow, may cause temporary rise in water levels.
The front of the ice jam near Fort McMurray has now melted past the meeting point of the Clearwater and Athabasca Rivers and continues to melt with warmer temperatures. It has shrunk by an additional 3 km since yesterday and is now approximately 12.5 km long.
The ice run from the Town of Athabasca released earlier today and is expected to meet the existing downstream ice jam near Fort McMurray by tomorrow evening.
Although water levels on the Clearwater and Athabasca Rivers have continued to fall, they are expected to rise again temporarily as the ice jam upstream arrives in Fort McMurray.
It is 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. Municipal and provincial officials continue to monitor river water levels and conditions closely.
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.
Closed Areas
Overland flooding is occurring in some low-lying areas, which is common during river breakup. The following areas are closed:
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Snye parking lot
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Morimoto Drive
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Raphael Cree Park and boat launch
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Tom Weber Park and boat launch
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Sarah Holden Dog Park
Important Safety Reminders
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Stay away from riverbanks, ice and flowing water.
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Do not enter closed areas.
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Keep children and pets away from affected areas.
Getting too close puts you and first responders at risk.
Other Trusted Information Sources
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Alberta Rivers - Check the provincial rivers website to find information on the status of all rivers in the province: https://rivers.alberta.ca/
Community updates are now scaled back to once per day and will be published following an update from river forecasters. For questions or further information, please call Pulse at 780-743-7000 or 1-800-973-9663.
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