People who live in Yukon's northernmost community of Old Crow are used to the cold — it was –40 C on Monday — but what they're not used to is having so little snow in December.

"It's very unusual. We should have a pile of snow," said William Josie, the director of lands and resources for the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. "It happened before, but very seldom."

Josie said the community typically has about 30 to 40 centimetres of snow by now, but so far this winter has brought just a thin layer.

He says it's meant that people can't get out on their snowmobiles just yet, to cut wood or check traplines.

"A few trappers went out, but the ones that travel long distance haven't made a move yet," Josie said.

He says the upside is that with so little snow, the river is "freezing very good" — meaning people can drive their ATVs on the ice and get further afield from the community.

Environment Canada's forecast for Old Crow is calling for the deep cold to continue, with no snow in sight.