The annual snow survey is so far showing nothing to be alarmed about, except for the mountainous area west of Carmacks, says the manager of the Yukon's hydrology section.

Ric Janowicz explained this morning the Whitehorse area has an above-normal snowpack, though overall, the upper region of the Yukon River watershed is not that far above an average winter.

Measurements taken on Mount McIntyre for the March 1 survey indicate a snowpack which is two-thirds above normal, the highest in 35 years, for instance.

But down in the Atlin area, the snowpack is 26 per cent below normal.

Atlin, he said, is a good indicator of what's going on in the headwaters of the Southern Lakes.

Janowicz said the current conditions across the Yukon don't raise any concerns with the potential for flooding where communities might be affected.

That being said, however, it is generally the April 1 survey which provides a truer picture of what the spring melt will look like because it's based on the final snowpack numbers for the winter, he emphasized.

Depending on the amount of snow that falls this month, Janowicz said, areas with below normal amounts of snow could increase and those above average could fall off.

He said the one area of concern lies between Carmacks and Aishihik Lake with a record-high snowpack which might cause problems during the spring melt for mining companies with properties in the area and the remote network of mining roads.

"So those companies should be aware of it.”

On the other hand, the above-average snowpack for the Aishihik country is good news for Yukon Energy and the potential for a larger amount of water stored in Aishihik Lake for use next winter.

"This is a lot more snow and a lot more melt potential this year than there was last year,” Yukon Energy spokeswoman Janet Patterson said this morning.

Janowicz said it's expected at this point that the spring runoff in the Alsek River drainage will be quite above normal, though nowhere near residential areas which might be affected.

"We are getting geared up for our April 1 survey, and that is the significant one,” he said.