Revised - A number of communities around the Yukon are grappling with flooding issues this week.

A flood warning has been issued for Teslin Lake, prompting redoubled efforts to handle the rising waters.

Teslin Mayor Gord Curran said Tuesday morning the village received 32.5 millimetres of rain on Sunday, followed by another 13 millimetres Monday. More rain fell Tuesday.

“We’re concerned about the rain,” the mayor told the Star.

Curran said the village was running short of superbags of sand Monday, but a new delivery was expected Tuesday.

“It might even have arrived by now,” Curran told the Star at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday.

Normal sandbags are continuing to be stacked in areas around the village to stave off the rising waters.

By the time the village’s defences against the flooding are fully in place, the mayor expected to see as many as 10,000 superbags and 15,000 regular sandbags on hand.

“We’re watching the situation constantly, shifting strategies as needed,” Curran said.

The village is pumping out two basements, he said. Seven houses have had berms built around them.

“Our efforts are aimed at containing this,” he said.

There are some concerns about the Yukon Motel being in the path of the flooding, Curran said, and plans are being laid to address it.

So far, there is no problem with the Nisutlin Bridge, he added.

Curran said if the bridge was in danger, the village would be facing worse problems than it currently is.

The Yukon government issued a flood warning Monday for the village, and provided an update on Tuesday and today for the various communities affected.

Ross River is also being affected by the rising waters.

“For Ross River, the superbag berm that is approximately 700m long being built along the river was completed (Tuesday) thanks to community efforts and the incident team on the ground,” it said.

“They have also used sandbags to secure a few other specific locations.

“The Pelly River has not received significant precipitation, and conditions should remain stable for the next 48 hours. While we may see short-term declines, there is still enough headwater snow to drive these systems higher and we continue to monitor.”

In Teslin, the government added, “The lake has been rising 20-25 cm per day pretty steadily and is expected to reach last year’s levels today.

“Teslin is asking citizens to prepare for flooding – partially pump septic tanks, make sure oil tanks are not flooding, have an emergency kit on hand and to be prepared to evacuate if required.

“The lake is expected to meet last year’s water level on Tuesday and may reach the 1962 record level by late June or early July,” officials added in the update.

In southeast Yukon, the Liard River remains under a flood warning.

The Liard First Nation has built and reinforced berms in Upper Liard and is now monitoring berms and water levels.

In the Dawson City region, the Yukon and Klondike rivers are reported to have dropped slightly, and the warning has now been downgraded to a watch.

According to an update issued at 2 p.m. Tuesday, the water level on the Klondike River above Bonanza Creek has declined 30 centimetres in the last 36 hours. Water levels are currently approximately 40 centimetres below the minor flooding threshold in Rock Creek.

“Water levels are expected to continue declining for the next 24 to 48 hours.

“With warm and clear weather, snowmelt runoff is expected to increase again in the headwaters. Hydrological modelling shows a high level of uncertainty as to whether snowmelt runoff from the remaining high elevation snowpack can drive water levels higher than seen in the previous week.

“In the meantime, the Emergency Support Services teams is currently preparing potential locations for group lodging and reception centres in Whitehorse if required.

“More information on those locations will be released by ESS this afternoon via Health and Social Services.”

The update stated additional Yukon Wildland Fire Management crews are headed to Carmacks today to assist with the response efforts.

Protection of River Road is a priority, with a berm being now being created for the area.

The City of Whitehorse is lending 40 pieces of 50-foot flood barrier (totalling 2,000 feet), and water pumps and superbags are being sent up today.

The Yukon River at Carmacks is projected to rise 60 to 80 cm from its current level.

“The Yukon River at Carmacks is currently above the 50-year return period water level and continuing to rise. The rate of rise has increased in the last 24 hours, with a 20-cm water level increase, as a result of recent precipitation in upstream basins. Low-lying areas are currently flooding.

“Water levels are forecast to continue rising, though the rate of rise is expected to slow as precipitation inputs move through the system.

“Water levels are expected to exceed the peak level experienced in 2021 in two to four days. Water levels on the Yukon River at Carmacks typically peak in late June.”

In Mayo, a high streamflow advisory is in effect for the Stewart River at Mayo. Sandbags, superbags and poly rolls have been pre-positioned in the village.

In Pelly Crossing, the Mica Bridge is closed and the road to Mica Bridge is open to local traffic only. The community garden is closed.

Water levels on the Pelly River are appearing to stabilize, however.