*** This article was written prior to the rain storm on the evening of July 19 ***
The level of Lake of the Woods is still above average for this time of year.
The Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) says that the level of Lake of the Woods is in the 95th percentile for this time of year and that the average lake level declined by 2cm over the past week.
With precipitation expected for the area, the LWCB expects levels to increase slightly before continuing to decline. The lake level is expected to fall by up to 4 cm (2 in) over the next week.
As the lake level continues to rise and drop, the Winnipeg River will follow suit. The level of the Winnipeg River immediately below the Norman Dam and down to Minaki is expected to change by 1-3 cm (1 in) over the next 7 days.
The Control Board says that upstream, Rainy Lake is expected to return to normal IJC-regulated range by the end of July. Barring a return to extremely wet weather, this could mean a much faster rate of decline for the Lake of the Woods and Winnipeg River towards the beginning of August.
The current level of Lac Seul is 356.70 m (1170.3 ft), 80th percentile level for this time of year. With some rain in the forecast, the level of the main body of Lac Seul is expected to increase by 3 cm (1 in), but decline over the course of the week by up to 1.5 cm (0.5 in). Lac Seul authorized outflow is scheduled to be decreased from 450 m³/s to 400 m³/s on Monday, July 18.
With recent cuts in outflow and declining tributary flows across the watershed, the level of the English River is expected to continue to fall but will likely not reach normal summer levels this month.