See the Huge Ice Jam Clogging Rivers in Fort McMurray | #ice

Added: 2026-05-06

[00:00:00]Drone footage reveals the unreal extent of an ice jam in Alberta's Athabasca River on April 28th. According to regional officials, this jam north of Fort McMurray was roughly 25 km long by Wednesday morning, just over a day since breakup on the river began.

[00:00:17]Water on the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers rose fast with levels in Fort McMurray said to have risen by about 7 m.

[00:00:26]An evacuation alert was issued for low-lying areas in the nearby community of Draper, and people were warned to keep well away from waterways as the situation could change quickly. We're seeing people getting too close to the water and bringing kids and pets right to the riverbank. That's a serious concern during active river breakup.

[00:00:44]Large chunks can travel fast and far.

[00:00:46]Water levels can surge quickly and pull you in. This footage from Siberia earlier this spring shows how an ice jam can suddenly become dangerous with little warning.

[00:00:58]With warmer temperatures, it's hoped that the jam will melt away. Though, the warmth could also fuel the flood situation by accelerating snowmelt and increasing runoff.

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