Heavy rain shuts Yukon's Klondike Highway, Chilkoot Trail

Heavy rain south of Whitehorse has closed the South KlondikeHighway and the Chilkoot Trail.

Yukon highways officials say a rock slide Fridaymorning covered the South Klondike Highway between Carcrossand 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 Serviceto 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 issuedrainfall warnings for Whitehorse, theSouth Klondike from Carcross to White Pass as well asthe 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 issueda weather advisory Thursday for the southeast Yukon because of intense rainfall. It's in effect until tomorrow.