Is the Fraser Rising Upstream of Prince George?

Live levels at the Fraser River gauges above Prince George — Hansard and Shelley — beside the one in the city, so a rise in the mountains shows here first.

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About these tools

Town Tools builds free, public tools for Prince George and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.

Worth knowing

Why the gauges upstream matter

The Fraser's high water is snowmelt from the mountains upstream, so the yearly peak usually falls between mid-May and June. Warm, wet spells on a deep snowpack are what to watch. In May 2020, freshet pushed the Regional District to issue evacuation notices in the rural Mud River area southwest of the city.

The gauge in the city can go quiet

The gauge at South Fort George is the one that reads the river as Prince George sees it, but a gauge can stop reporting for weeks while it is repaired or the ice is on. When it is blank, Shelley and Hansard are separate stations and may still be reporting. This page never fills a gap with a guess.

The Nechako is not on this page

The Nechako joins the Fraser at the city and has its own story, including river ice that has jammed and backed water up in winter. This page follows the Fraser only. The Fraser & Nechako River Watch page has the Nechako and ice history.

Is the Fraser Rising Upstream of Prince George?

About these tools

Upstream gauges

Fraser River at Hansard

Fraser River at Shelley

Here in town

Fraser River at South Fort George

Worth knowing

Why the gauges upstream matter

The gauge in the city can go quiet

The Nechako is not on this page

Official channels