First significant snowfall of the year backed up traffic on city streets in Whitehorse
WHITEHORSE – Traffic was backed up for miles Thursday morning as a string of cars snaked along Two Mile Hill and Mountain View Road in the aftermath of the first significant snowfall of the year. A frontal system moving in off the Alaskan Panhandle prompted a special weather statement from Environment and Climate Change Canada on Wednesday warning of heavy snow, up to 5cms in places, followed by the possibility of freezing rain later in the day.
Traffic into and out of Whitehorse flowed freely until around 8am, when the first flakes of snow began to fall. Winter driving conditions set in quickly, and a string of bumper to bumper traffic occupied many of the cities throughfares, with some commutes between Porter Creek and Downtown taking upwards of 45 minutes.
According to Environment & Climate Change Canada, the snow is expected to subside in many regions around noon-time today, but the risk of freezing rain or rain showers remains.
