Special weather statement says gusts could reach 80 km/h this afternoon and evening
Update 8 a.m. Oct. 15:
The wind storm over the evening of Oct. 15 knocked power out in parts of Whitehorse and other areas of the Southern Yukon but it was restored within hours. According to reports from ATCO Electric Yukon via its X.com page, outages due to trees blowing into power lines were reported at around 1 a.m. between Teslin and Johnson’s Crossing and in the Copper Ridge, Ingram, Arkell, Granger and Logan neighbourhoods of Whitehorse.
ATCO reported restored power in some of the affected areas by 3 a.m. and the remainder expected to be back on by 5 a.m.
Original Story:
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of high winds for much of the southern and central Yukon from the afternoon of Oct. 14 into the night.
A bulletin from the forecaster issued on the morning of Oct. 14 is calling for southeast to southwest winds near 60 km/h with possible gusts up to 70-80 km/h.
The weather statement is in effect for Whitehorse, the South Klondike Highway from Carcross to White Pass, Haines Junction, the Haines Road from Haines Junction to Pleasant Camp, Kluane Lake, Pelly Crossing, Carmacks, Faro, Teslin, Watson Lake, the Cassiar Mountains and Atlin, B.C.
Environment Canada states that the wind will be driven by “a vigorous low pressure system” that is over the Gulf of Alaska but expected to move into the Yukon this afternoon.
“As the system approaches, strong south to southeasterly winds are expected this afternoon, while in the wake of the system, winds will change to strong southwest to westerlies this evening,” the weather statement reads.
The strong winds are expected to ease overnight as the system passes over the Yukon to the east.
Environment Canada warns that the the high winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches and that loose objects could be tossed in the wind, causing injury or damage. The weather statement adds that drivers should be prepared to adjust to changing road conditions due to the high winds.
Contact Jim Elliot at [email protected]