As noted, the far north is best defined as 'extreme' variations in terms of weather related incidents that occur at any given time of year, so you really have to be as flexible as possible when travelling abroad as the past few years have indicated :
June 2012 - Alaska Highway washed out at km 1103 (mile 689) in the Yukon Territory due to : heavy rain and snowmelt.
Here is a few pictures of the continuing reconstruction phase in September 2012 :
Throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2011, British Columbia had all kinds of washouts and road closures due to heavy rains...as I had to reroute and change my travelling projected schedule that placed me two days behind off the bat, somehow I made it back to work on time however I had to push it with some extended distance travel included night driving which I didn't care for, but as they say be thankful there is at least a road path in these parts of the far north as roads here deal in adversity due to permafrost, weather and terrain factors, lots of reconstruction and maintenance in between.
The notables of road closures I remember in 2011 were :
Trans Canada 1 near Hope
Hart Highway between Pine Pass and Chetwynd
Cassiar Highway in two places
The Hart Highway washout zone I planned to drive thru there at night as I sure did not want to deal with the crazy daytime traffic with the mass delays as it was 24 hour pilot car escort thru the stretch...
From what I seen at night it was a miracle they even made some sort of path thru that terrain with the aftermath, and seemed pretty spooky by the dark settings, although it was the first time on the Hart Highway for me in 20 years.
I couldn't believe the portion from Prince George to MacKenzie Junction was still the same after 20 years other than the added newer signs surrounding the MacKenzie Junction.
The 2011 Cassiar Highway washouts sure put a damper on my projected travel as it was closed throughout September, as it happened while I was on the road starting my RV travels as all the roads were fine when I checked prior to departure, until Sue mentioned to me the Cassiar Highway had just washed out in two places when I stopped by to visit to my surprise...she could tell you how dissappointed I was about having to potentially deal with the southbound commuting in a hurry to leave Alaska before winter hits traffic, along with the increased commercial equipment gas well hauling traffic, and any increased traffic rerouted that would normally take the Cassiar Highway....Had my windshield destroyed due to a gravel truck on the Alaska Highway in a hurry not covering their load upon my return northbound.
In July 2010, I drove the Taylor Highway enroute to Dawson 10 days before the major washouts occured due to the late June heavy rains, as it was the worst condition I seen the Taylor Highway and Boundary Spur Road in my 5 prior travels at the time (the Top of the World portion was OK).
My friend in Dawson City drove to Fairbanks in April 2010 as the Top of the World route and Taylor Highway route was opened early which was a surprise as he stopped by to see me so early in the year, lack of snowfall versus the normal amount which led to the early opening.
Since the 2009 Eagle devestating disaster was mentioned, that was caused by two factors :
Ice Jams and hotter than normal temperatures right after.
April 2009 seemed like a normal spring breakup period at first with the daytime highs of 40's to 50's F, as portions of the Yukon River decided to break up and flow some chunks of ice until it stopped at portions of the river where it created ice jams downstream and upstream from Eagle, as the town of Eagle got hit with an influx of water and got flooded out in which any ice jams will cause major flooding in the perspective areas as it diverts water out of the river.
The water receeded after a couple days as the residents that got flood damage were still cleaning up and recovering, as early May comes around as the Yukon River along Dawson City area breaks up and the ice is flowing downstream on a warmer than average day, as the ice flow stops at the ice jam that is still holding upstream from Eagle.
All of a sudden the temperature hits a well above normal 70+ F in the area for early May as the residents of Eagle thought the one flooding event they dealt with was all over, until they got awoken overnight with the upstream ice jam that gave away and flattened all the structures in it's path, destroyed the livelihoods of many residents...they reported 40 feet high walls of ice that rolled thru the village, something that has never been witnessed in Eagle before.
That is the reason why the village of Eagle are taking precautions due to the late spring breakup that was mentioned, knowing more likely the ice jams will occur and face the potential flooding, however I am sure they are praying not to have anymore ice jams and hot temperatures after the ice goes out in Dawson.
In 1991-1992 winter throughout the Alaska Interior it was record snowfall recorded over 12 feet, as the Tanana River ice in Nenana did not flow until May 14 because of the excess snow insulating the ice.
The Top of the World Highway finally opened in Late May 1992 that season as I driven the week that it opened on that route for the first time enroute to Dawson...the water level on the Yukon River was still higher than normal but flowing very fast at the same time as you could feel the power while crossing on the ferry :
Another extreme comparison record snowfall of late season melt shown on the Taylor Highway at Mosquito Fork in May 1992 (top picture), water flowing fast at 50 mph near the height of the bridge :
Mosquito Fork at it's normal state in July 1998 (same highway bridge shown) :
Another comparison to a late snowmelt in May 1995 at the location on mile 5 Dalton Highway, where this channeled valley that normally forms a stream of water all of a sudden became a lake, as only semis could cross the road as no light truck or passenger vehicles had dared to attempt to cross including me (low boy semi trailer shown as water surface was at the trailer's belly)....the water was flowing over the road edge at 25 mph as my Yukon River trip was postponed.
The '24 inch' culvert pipe that was in place under the road for drainage ended up being replaced with three culvert pipes that totaled '24 feet' combined for drainage.
More than likely to my guess the projected late breakup of the Yukon River will determine a late opening of the Top of the World Highway along with the recent snowfalls, as the Taylor Highway to Eagle route was opened earlier prior to the recent snowfalls that occured in the past 10 day period.
Then again in the far north, you just never know whats next.
I only seen the Tanana River ice and the Salcha River ice go out before, but would love to witness watching the Yukon or MacKenzie River ice go out someday which is a site to see, as there are a couple of Yukon River ice clips at Dawson posted on YouTube.
