DAWSON CITY, Yukon — Emergency officials say water levels on the surging Klondike River will rise and fall over the coming days, and a flood warning remains in place for riverside communities about 500 kilometres north of Whitehorse.
A statement posted on the territory's emergency communications centre website says flooding is ongoing along 50 kilometres of the Klondike Valley between Dawson and Flat Creek.
Tactical evacuations were ordered Wednesday for a number of properties around Rock Creek, east of Dawson, and the statement says several government branches are involved but the situation is "challenging local resources."
A roughly 130 kilometre section of the North Klondike Highway, the main road through that region, remains closed by high water north of Stewart.
Yukon's online traveller information site shows key roads north and south of Dawson, on either side of the Yukon River, are also closed until further notice.
In addition to the flood warning along the Klondike River, high streamflow advisories are posted for the Lower Yukon River around Dawson and for the Pelly and Ross rivers, south of Faro.
"The Lower Yukon River in the Dawson region is expected to peak within the next five days," the forecast said.
It also noted levels in the Pelly River have stabilized this week and predicted water levels there should begin receding by the end of the weekend.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2023.
The Canadian Press
