High water advisory issued for Yukons Liard River

The Yukon government is warning that parts of the Liard River are at risk of overflowing, and warn that flood levels could be reached by early Friday.

The forecast is calling for more rain and water levels are expected to rise 25 to 35 centimetres per day for the next couple of days before dropping off.

Yukon Wildland Fire Management has sent more than a dozen firefighters to build a backup dyke on the Liard River near the community of Upper Liard. They are also reinforcing a sandbag dyke already in place.

Officials say they do not expect the water to top the sandbag dyke already in place, but they are warning those in the area to be prepared. They advise to have enough supplies to last 72 hours and have an emergency plan in place. Ground seepage can also be an issue in the community, and residents are advised to be prepared for that risk.

Extreme amounts of rain over the past week anda higher-than-average snowfall this past winter have caused the water levels to swell on the river.