Severe weather hits several Nunavut communities, prompting closures

Severe weather continued to blow through Nunavut Thursday, prompting road closures and government offices to be shut down in several communities.

In Iqaluit, periods of light and blowing snow were expected until the evening with winds 40 km/h and gusting to 60 km/h, according to Environment Canada’s forecast at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Snow and high winds forced many offices to close Wednesday in Iqaluit, including city hall and recreational facilities. They remained closed Thursday morning but reopened at 1 p.m.

City services, including trucked water, landfill and garbage pickup have also resumed and recreational facilities reopened for their usual hours, the city said Thursday in a public service announcement.

The city asked people to clear their driveways for trucked service deliveries and to move vehicles off the roads so snow removal operations could be carried out.

Temperatures are expected to remain at -20 C on Friday in Iqaluit, with winds gusting from 20 km/h to 40 km/h and periods of light snow, according to Environment Canada’s forecast.

In Naujaat on Thursday, Government of Nunavut offices remained closed as a blizzard warning remains in place from Environment Canada until Thursday evening.

Winds are expected to at about 50 km/h with gusts up to 70 km/h, creating a wind chill factor of -38 C Thursday afternoon. Temperatures this low carry a risk of frostbite within minutes for exposed skin, Environment Canada said.

Visibility is expected to be reduced to near zero during heavy and blowing snow.

A blizzard warning remains in effect Thursday for Clyde River as well, where winds are gusting to 70 km/h and reduced visibility is expected to continue until midday Friday.

Temperatures were reported at around -14 C, but with wind chill are expected to feel like -28 C Thursday afternoon, creating a risk of frostbite.

Despite that, government offices in Clyde River reopened Thursday.