Warm wet Arctic weather leads to flight disruptions, bad roads

Rain water covers an icy street in Inukjuak Nov. 19. (PHOTO BY GEORGE BERTHE)

As the weekend approaches, unseasonably warm temperatures combined with strong winds and rain, are likely to bring more dangerous conditions across Nunavut and Nunavik.

Temperatures in Iqaluit rose to a high of 2.6 Celsius Nov. 19 — and were at 3 C at 8 a.m. Nov. 20, Environment Canada said in its early morning forecast Nov. 20.

These temperatures are almost 10 C warmer than the normal temperature highs and lows of between of -11 C and -19 C.

The rain in Iqaluit is forecast to continue until evening, when temperatures return to a more seasonal -5 C.

But that drop in temperature may produce slippery road conditions for Iqaluit residents after the coating of rain turns to ice.

Communities in Nunavik already experienced bad road conditions Nov. 19, due to wet snow and ice.

Some schools in Nunavik were cancelled that day due to the poor road conditions and many workers were asked to stay home because it was too dangerous to venture out.

And rain also led to flooding around homes in Inukjuak Nov. 19.

The 4 C noted by Environment Canada in this Hudson Bay community was a record-breaker for the day, surpassing the former high of 2 C for the same date in 2003.

The temperatures for Nov. 19 in Inukjuak usually range between a high of -8 C and a low -15 C, according to Environment Canada.

Flights were also grounded throughout Nunavik due to the icy conditions.

As well, high winds, which have blown across northern Canada since early this week, have now made their way to Baffin and Nunavik.

Several houses in Salluit had their roofs blown off Nov. 19 after wind gusts in the Hudson Strait community reached up to 140 kilometres per hour..

A wind warning remained in effect Thursday evening for Salluit, with gusts of up to 106 km/h.

Environment Canada expects the winds to continue in Nunavik until the weekend, with gusts on Friday afternoon reaching 80 km/h in some areas.

Strong winds on Baffin Island are also expected to continue until Nov. 20, with gusts of 50 km/h forecast for Iqaluit and 70 km/h in Pangnirtung.

The unseasonal weather inflicted a toll on many flights throughout Nunavut this week.

Canadian North flights to Hall Beach and Igloolik were cancelled Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 due to strong cross-winds, said Kerry Lewis, the airline’s communications manager.

On Nov. 18 and Nov 19, Canadian North cancelled flight operations in Cape Dorset.

And all Canadian North planes have been mainly grounded in the Kitikmeot region since Nov. 18 due to blizzard conditions.

“We’re expecting it will improve a bit, but its still expected to be windy… from what we’ve heard, the wind could be quite high through to Saturday,” said Lewis.

First Air has also confirmed numerous cancellations of intra-Baffin flights since Nov. 17, but said jet operations out of Ottawa and Montreal have not been affected.

For the latest weather in your area, visit Environment Canada’s website here.