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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifers are remarking on just how warm, cloudy and snowy this December has been.

In reality, weather last month was significantly warmer than average, but snowfall and snow depth were normal, Environment Canada said.

The average daily temperature last month was -17.5 C, where the historical average for December is -23.7 C.

December ended with 28.2 cm snow depth, very close to the average of 27 cm at the Yellowknife Airport.

"There's one area in Canada where winter has truly been different in recent years, and that's in the Mackenzie area," said David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment Canada. "Everywhere, our winters are different now than they used to be, but nowhere has it been more dramatic ... than the Northwest Territories."

Over the past 64 years, the Mackenzie district has warmed up by 4.5 C, while Canada-wide, temperatures rose 2.8 C, Phillips said. Environment Canada divides the country into 12 different zones, with the Mackenzie district being the zone that encompasses Yellowknife and much of the NWT.

"We're a winter people. Our reputation is built on winter and that's something that we seem to be losing."

In Yellowknife, there are fewer days where temperatures drop below -30 C.

Between 2001 and 2010, there were 42 days per year with temperatures below -30 C. In the 1970s, there were 64 such days per year.

"What that's really showing you is that it's warming and it's not as cold and really your lifeline - these ice roads - are more difficult to grow and maintain," said Phillips.

While the unusual temperatures may have delayed the opening of the ice road between Yellowknife and Dettah - which only opened last Saturday though it normally opens around Dec. 23, according to the Department of Transportation's 10-year average - the winter road that services three NWT diamond mines will not be affected, officials said.

"There is a little bit less ice (but) it's not very noticeable," said Ron Near, director of winter road operations for the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto joint venture. "Naturally, with anyone involved with building ice roads, the colder it is, the more excited we get - but it's on track to be open at the regular time."

Construction is currently underway on the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road and it is set to open on time during the last week of January.

"The start of the road has been pretty consistent over the last 10-12 years," said Near.

There will be weekly updates on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto road website on the progress of the winter road as construction continues.

The amount of supplies hauled to and from the mines every year fluctuates, said Near. In recent history, it has been as high as 10,922 loads in 2007 and other years it has been as low as 3,500 loads. This year, Near estimates about 6,500 loads will be hauled along the road. "6,500 loads is a good year," he said.

Most of this traffic services the Diavik, Ekati and Snap Lake mines. "There's a smaller amount that go to different exploration sites or projects that are operating on the road."

Even if the trend of above-average temperatures continues through January, Near does not foresee any issues with the winter road. "The warmer the temperatures, the slower it is to build ice," said Near. "But the temperatures that we've had are well within the lines of building ice."

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