Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 21/02) - Who knows what to expect when you peek out the window or check the forecast in the morning?

Last year was the second-warmest year on record. And in Iqaluit, the weather was also warmer, wetter and cloudier than usual.

Although January and February were average months weather-wise in Iqaluit in 2001, March was the warmest on record.

Residents noticed a warmer than usual summer and rain fell practically everyday in August. September was normal, but the rains fell and the temperatures stayed warm during October.

Then, less than half the regular amount of snow fell in December. Over Christmas, temperatures even rose above zero.

Above zero?

Some find the odd weather an inconvenience.

"Not enough snow this year," said Pierre Wolfe. "The roads are too slippery for cabs and there's not enough snow to snowmobile," he said.

Wolfe was equally unhappy with the toasty summer. "I get more lazy," he said. "You can't play sports because you sweat to death. I basically drove around all summer, windows wide open, music cranked."

But he figures the warm summer and balmy winter is the calm before the storm.

"The rest of the winter, I figure it's going to be cold."

Still, even if temperatures do drop, Wolfe doesn't think we'll see much snow. "It went a different map this year," he joked. "It got a different map or something."

Marty Gendron agreed something weird is up, remarking on the rain in December: "They'll have to change the song to December Rain."

But Rannva Simonsen found the rain comforting. "I come from a place (Faroe Islands) where it rains all the time," she said. "So I kind of enjoy it, even though I know it is very unusual. Simonsen, a self proclaimed "environmental freak," believes humans are affecting the weather.

But she's optimistic that people will change their habits. "The cosmos has lots of grace and forgiveness," she said.

Still, while many nod vigorously when asked if they found the weather wacky lately, Susie Nooshoota didn't notice a difference.

"It's the same every year to me," she said.

Less snow? Warm summer? "No, it's the same," she said.