There are above-average snowpack conditions in the Whitehorse area again this year, according to the annual March 1 snow survey conducted by Environment Yukon.

Hydrologist Ric Janowicz of the water resources branch emphasized this morning the survey results released earlier this month provide a preliminary view into the conditions up in the mountains.

The upcoming April 1 survey is the more telling regarding what the spring runoff is expected to look like, Janowicz said.

He said the average to above-average snowpack in the Whitehorse area will likely be reduced somewhat in the April 1 survey, given the lack of precipitation so far this month.

The survey shows the snowpack in the Liard River Basin is also well above average again this year.

Janowicz said there's a 20-year trend showing more precipitation in the southern Yukon generally, which he said is an indication of climate warming.

The average snowpack conditions – water content – through the Southern Lake region was 13 per cent above normal, according to the March 1 survey.

It was 16 per cent above in the Whitehorse area.

In the Liard River Basin, conditions were 46 per cent above normal at the beginning of the month.

Conversely, in the Alsek River Basin, the basin-wide average was 22 per cent below normal.

Given average spring and summer weather, early indications in the March survey suggest runoff and peak flows this spring in the Alsek River system will be five to 10 per cent below normal.

Runoff and peak flows are predicted to be 16 to 20 per cent above average for the Yukon River and Marsh Lake, says the survey.

In the Liard River Basin, runoff and peak flows are expected to be 45 to 50 per cent above normal.

Based on the early predictions, runoff and peak flows in the Pelly River Sub-basin are expected to be 10 to 15 per cent above normal.

Runoff and peak flows in the Stewart River Sub-basin are expected to be normal to 10 per cent above normal.

Runoff and peak flows in the Peel River Basin are expected to be five to 15 per cent below normal.

Runoff and peak flows in the Porcupine River Basin are anticipated to be 10 to 15 per cent below normal.