With the assistance of highway workers, some motorists were able to navigate a stretch of North Klondike Highway 15 kilometres south of Carmacks, after a section of it washed out late Monday afternoon.

Officials had closed the major artery after heavy rain blocked a culvert, causing flooding on the highway.

"Last night, crews were able to pilot through some vehicles," said Jennifer Magnuson of the Department of Highways and Public Works.

"And (today) we are continuing on one lane, but that is subject to stop at any minute depending on if the rain comes down any harder."

Magnuson confirmed that two Holland America tour buses bound for Whitehorse were forced to return to Dawson City because crews could not guarantee the vehicles could navigate the compromised road surface.

According to Bill Miller, the weather service specialist with Environment Canada in Whitehorse, Carmacks had been deluged by 62 mm of rain since last Thursday to this morning.

"That's a lot of rain, a lot more than normal," he said this morning, adding that Burwash Landing, directly west of Carmacks on the North Alaska Highway, had been drenched by 119.4 mm of rain from last Friday to today. That's more than half the annual average of 192.1 mm.

"It looks like we've set extreme daily rainfall records, so that gives you an idea of how much precipitation has fallen," said Miller.

At noon today, highway crews once again closed that stretch of highway to replace the damaged culvert. Magnuson said motorists can get "up-to-the-minute" information on the North Klondike Highway's status by calling 511.

"As soon as I know what's going on, I post it on the service," she added.

Magnuson also confirmed that the Mount Nansen Road to the mine site formerly operated by BYG Natural Resources Inc. is closed indefinitely because of a washout.

"But there won't be any construction or recovery of that road until we've got the Klondike open."

Contrary to rumours that people were stranded at the minesite, Carmen Ingram of the government's abandoned mine unit said nobody is there except a year-round caretaker.

The current flooding comes 20 years after persistent rain washed out the North Alaska Highway for several days, stranding hundreds of tourists. Crews had to install a temporary Bailey's bridge at the worst-damaged area to get traffic moving again.

In other travel news, the Ross River ferry at the Pelly River crossing was shut down for repairs at 8:00 this morning but should be running by this evening.