Yes, Iqaluit, it’s cold — but you’ve seen worse

On Jan. 26 in Iqaluit, the day started with temperatures of -43 C and windchill estimates of -65 C. Environment Canada forecasts the weather to warm up a little by Wednesday, but the cold dry weather could return after that. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

The extreme cold gripping much of Nunavut recently made its way to Iqaluit this week, shutting down schools, daycares, some government offices and even freezing water and sewage trucks off the road Jan. 26.

But Iqaluit has seen colder days.

“The record minimum temperature for today is -44.8 degrees Celsius, set in 1992,” Brian Proctor, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada said Jan. 26.

“So you’re getting near a record — it dipped down to -43 Celsius this morning in Iqaluit — but not quite.”

Iqalungmiut who had no choice but to leave their houses in the cold took to social media to vent frustration.

Just how cold is it in Iqaluit? Truck is frozen and I haven't been able to get through calling a cab for 20 mins now, all companies!

— Gideonie Joamie (@tausunni) January 26, 2015

Others on Twitter tried to find humour in the situation.

Supposed to be -53 tomorrow in Iqaluit. AKA Rankin conditions. Bone cold. Snowpants on at your desk cold. Face hurting cold. So cold.

— Kent Driscoll (@KentDriscoll) January 25, 2015

Some even found positive, practical benefits to the extreme cold.

Hung my baby's cloth diapers outside overnight. They freeze-dried in the -67 weather! #Iqaluit is cold!

— Laakkuluk W. Bathory (@Laakkuluk) January 26, 2015

Nunavummiut outside Iqaluit love to point out that it’s usually colder in other communities across the territory. But cold is relative, right?

It’s -7C in San Diego today (19F) and my friend is cold. It’s -67 C in Iqaluit (-88F) and I am also cold, I told him.

— Anubha Momin (@_anubha) January 26, 2015

YOU DONT KNOW THE MEANING OF COLD!!! Neither do I 'cause I'm not living at home atm, but it's -67 in Iqaluit today. ߘ±

— Loz (@LozzNev) January 26, 2015

City councillor Kenny Bell used the extreme cold to reminisce about architecture that might have been in the city.

Days like today were probably the inspiration for this proposed town design back in 1958. #Iqaluit #socold pic.twitter.com/hRYmcI96J3

— Outcrop Nunavut (@outcropnunavut) January 26, 2015

Iqaluit, and most of Baffin Island, is trapped under the polar vortex right now, Proctor said.

“It’s very, very cold over much of the island at this point.”

Proctor said there are indications the temperature will rise slightly over the next 24 hours, but that low windchills will continue.

Jan. 28 could see some snow, raising the mercury slightly, but temperatures are expected to cool again immediately after, Proctor added.

The all-time record low for Iqaluit was set on Feb. 10, 1967, Proctor said. That day, the mercury sunk to -45.6 C.