Whitehorse Daily Star

Temperatures heating up flood risks

Two communities in the Yukon have a high risk of flooding.

By Whitehorse Star on May 23, 2013

Two communities in the Yukon have a high risk of flooding.

According to a Yukon government flood risk report released Wednesday, both Upper Liard and Ross River have a high risk of flooding.

In the Pelly River at Ross River, peak water levels normally occur during the first week of June.

The report says snowpack conditions in the Pelly River basin upstream of Ross River were 144 per cent of normal this year.

Since last week's isolated flooding, water levels have subsided to a point that's currently 74 cm below flood stage.

Water levels may rise again as the increased snowpack melts.

For the Liard River at Upper Liard, peak water level normally occurs around the first week of June.

Since the May 13 break-up on the Liard, the water level has been rising five to 10 cm a day due to low elevation snowmelt. It is currently stable due to lower than normal temperatures.

"Officials will continue to closely monitor the areas with a moderate to high flood risk,” the report says.

"A damage assessment team will be in Ross River and Rock Creek this week to assess the impact of recent high water in those communities.”

Be the first to comment

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.