Whitehorse has been hit by a deluge of snow, with 52 centimetres on the ground as of Dec. 28, the fourth‑highest level on record. The highest was 65 centimetres in 1980, Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon said.
The city has also set a new Whitehorse December precipitation record, with 64 millimetres this month, the highest since local records began in 1940 and far above the long‑term average of 16 millimetres, Sekhon told the News.
He said recent snowfall in the city amounted to roughly a month’s worth in just a couple of days, with the December average sitting at about 25 centimetres.
Sekhon said a single‑day increase of around 10 centimetres is unusual for Whitehorse and typically only happens every few years.
The City of Whitehorse said in a social media post it is focusing snow‑ploughing efforts on priority routes in the downtown area and Porter Creek, including Centennial Street, Hickory Street and Wann Road, as well as Copper Ridge’s Emerald Way, Lazulite Drive, Heron Drive and Whistle Bend’s Casca Boulevard as crews manage winter conditions.
The City of Whitehorse said transportation maintenance crews are clearing bus stops across the city and that contractor crews will be supporting the city over the coming days to clear snow with a focus on accessibility. It earlier announced the continued suspension of several bus services due to mechanical issues in the fleet after recent weather, including peak weekday service on Routes 101, 102 and 401.
Environment Canada forecasts snowfall in Whitehorse will taper off around 4 p.m. on Dec. 29 before returning on Dec. 30 and 31. on Dec. 30, about two to four centimetres is forecast in Whitehorse.
Environment Canada has issued yellow weather warnings for snowfall on the South Klondike Highway, Haines Road and the Alaska Highway through the Cassiar Mountains. Snowfall of 30 to 40 centimetres is continuing on the South Klondike Highway and Haines Road, while about 15 centimetres is expected along the Cassiar Mountains section of the Alaska Highway.
Yukon Highways and Public Works said in a social media post that the South Klondike Highway is closed on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border due to poor conditions and avalanche risk, with crews carrying out control work ahead of an update expected on Dec. 30.
511 Yukon is showing a travel advisory for the Alaska Highway from Jake’s Corner to the Rancheria River rest stop, about 70 kilometres from Upper Liard. Advisories are also in place for the Alaska Highway from Champagne Landing 10 through Haines Junction to Silver City.
A travel advisory for the Atlin Road, Tagish Road and the South Klondike Highway is also in place.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com