Blizzard prompts Iqaluit offices, organizations to close
City emergency services remain open as Environment Canada warns of limited visibility
Several offices in Iqaluit are closed Wednesday due to poor weather. Environment Canada has the Nunavut capital under a blizzard warning. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Several offices and organizations in Iqaluit were closed Wednesday as the city sits under a blizzard warning.
Environment Canada issued the warning at about 4:30 a.m., forecasting winds as high as 50 to 60 km/h and gusts up to 80 km/h, as well as 10 to 20 centimetres of snow through the day and into Wednesday evening.
Visibility was limited in the city Wednesday afternoon and blizzard conditions were expected to last until Thursday morning, according to the alert.
The City of Iqaluit’s emergency services and road clearing crews were still operating Wednesday at around 2:30 p.m. However, water, sewage and garbage trucks were pulled off the roads, the city said in a public service announcement.
City hall and recreational facilities closed Wednesday the city advised residents to take precautions and prepare for other possible service disruptions.
The Government of Nunavut, Qulliq Energy Corp., Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Amaruq Hunters and Trappers Association also closed their offices.
Power was out in the downtown for a time but it was restored at around 2:15 p.m., QEC announced.
Canadian North is cancelling flights and the Iqaluit airport was closed, the airline reported in a Facebook post. Several other Iqaluit restaurants and stores, including NorthMart and Arctic Ventures, announced their closures on Facebook posts.
Oh lord restaurants are closed how are we supposed to feed our family’s now?!?
Blizzards on Monday’s and Friday’s are the best blizzards.