Heavy rain shuts Yukon's Klondike Highway, Chilkoot Trail
Rock slide closes road at km 58 between Carcross and Skagway
Heavy rain south of Whitehorse has closed the South Klondike Highway and the Chilkoot Trail.
Yukon highways officials say a rock slide Friday morning covered the South Klondike Highway between Carcross and Skagway at kilometre 58, around Tutshi Lake. They say the slide remains unstable and they can't say how long it might take to clean up.
Flooding on the Taiya River has forced the Klondike National Parks Service to temporarily shut down the Chilkoot Trail. A parks advisory says water is expected to be "knee- to waist- deep" on lower sections of trail. It will be closed for at least 24 hours.
Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for Whitehorse, the South Klondike from Carcross to White Pass as well as the Haines Road from Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska. Campers are advised to move away from low-lying areas. The forecast calls for continued heavy rain though Saturday night.
The Yukon government also issued a weather advisory Thursday for the southeast Yukon because of intense rainfall. It's in effect until tomorrow.