IQALUIT - Slippery roads due to warm weather and January rain in Iqaluit closed schools, city offices and the airport for parts of Jan. 4 and 5, giving people some extra time off after the holidays.

Temperatures were above freezing in Iqaluit for parts of both Jan. 4 and 5 with periods of rain. Slippery roads closed schools, city offices and some government offices - Jeanne Gagnon/NNSL photo

Daytime temperatures were above freezing for both days, with the city even experiencing periods of rain, at a time when normal daytime temperatures should hover around -22 C.

A couple of municipal vehicles slid off the road and newly-elected Iqaluit mayor Madeleine Redfern said she almost slid off the road herself while driving. Roads were closed on Jan. 4 until 1 p.m. and on Jan. 5 until 10 a.m. "because the roads were too slippery and they were unsafe," said Redfern, adding that at this time of year, roads are usually closed due to blizzards.

"What can happen and what has happened the last couple of nights, the sands sinks into the warm ice where it washes off the road and it literally becomes a skating rink," she said. "Even with the winter tires, it was just still too unsafe."

Redfern said the city is monitoring weather conditions.

At least three Iqaluit schools closed from Jan. 4 until midday on Jan. 5 since the icy roads were dangerous for students and school buses. Such closures due to warm weather in January are unusual, said three school principals.

"The roads are just so treacherous for the kids and for our buses that we have to wait until they're able to get down the hills," said Don Peters, principal at Aqsarniit Middle School. "Iqaluit … when the snow flies and it's cold, it's not a problem. But when it's like this, since they don't use salts on the roads, it's very difficult to keep them clear and it's very odd weather."

Romeyn Stevenson, vice-principal at Inuksuk High School, said everyone he talked to was shocked it was raining in January.

And Joamie Illinniarvik School principal Elle Higgins said she can't recall in her 38 years in the education system a school having to close because of warm weather in January.

The slick roads also affected travellers as the Iqaluit airport was closed until noon on Jan. 4 and until 9:20 a.m. on Jan. 5 because of ice on the runway, said Methusalah Kunuk, assistant deputy minister for transportation. He added the department had to order 88 more bags of de-icing fluid at a cost of $5,000 each. The airport receives 150 bags of de-icing fluid annually on the sealift, which usually is enough to last the year. However the airport went through 75 bags between Dec. 4 and Jan. 5.

"The warm weather is causing ice on the runway," he said. "We had to clear off the ice before we allow planes to come in or leave. We had to use some of our de-icing chemical and equipment to clear the ice. It's something that we cannot control but we are prepared for it."

Environment Canada forecasts call for temperatures to drop back below 0 C in Iqaluit starting Jan. 6.

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