Blizzard shuts down GN offices in 5 Nunavut hamlets
Environment Canada warns of strong wind gusts, risk of frostbite
Whale Cove, seen in this file photo, is one of five Nunavut hamlets experiencing blizzard conditions on Wednesday. (File photo)
Updated March 4 at 1:35 p.m. ET
Government of Nunavut offices in five hamlets were closed Wednesday due to blizzard conditions.
The closures are in Whale Cove, Naujaat, Sanirajak, Chesterfield Inlet and Clyde River, the government announced in a series of weather bulletins issued early Wednesday.
At about 1:30 p.m., the GN announced the Whale Cove offices have reopened.
The Clyde River office was also closed Tuesday due to weather conditions.
In its bulletins, the GN advised people to check the government’s social media pages and listen to local radio for updates.
Early Wednesday in Sanirajak, a northwest wind gusting to 80 km/h buffeted the hamlet, according to the Environment and Climate Change Canada forecast. The wind chill, which was -48 C in the morning, is expected to drop to -53 C by afternoon.
These conditions bring “hazardous frostbite conditions,” warns Environment Canada, and blizzard conditions are expected to continue into Wednesday evening.
Note: This story was updated to note the Whale Cove offices have reopened
Meanwhile everything is open in arviat while it’s at minus 55
so tough.
Newsflash: GN offices not functioning is the normal state of affairs, no matter the weather.