Chris Windeyer
Northern News Services
Monday, February 12, 2007

IQALUIT - Cold air from the central Arctic and warm air from Labrador combined over South Baffin last week and the result was record winds and property damage.

The storm tore up roofs in Iqaluit and shut down offices and schools from Gjoa Haven to Pangnirtung.

"This storm was just massive," said Yvonne Bilan-Wallace, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. "It was really erratic. (The wind) would go down and pick up again."

Iqaluit posted a record for the month of February with sustained winds reaching 120 kilometres an hour, with gusts peaking around 135 kilometres an hour during the evening of Feb. 4. The previous record for gusts in February was 114 kilometres per hour set in 1962. Last week's gusts were more than enough to cancel flights, interrupt cell phone service and cause repeated power outages.

The bluster also ripped a shard of metal off the roof of the eight-storey building in Iqaluit. Inuksuk high school stayed closed on Tuesday due to damage from the storm.

The roof was constructed with layers, so there were no leaks or drafts as a result of the damage, said Don Sinclaire-Chenier, general manager of the Nunastar Properties, which owns the eight-storey.

Inuksuk high school also sustained a damaged roof, and contractors were busy Tuesday assessing the aftermath. Classes were cancelled Tuesday.

"I haven't heard of anything (this bad), said principal Terry Young.