IQALUIT
Blizzards have been suffocating the capital without stop in 2016.

Iqaluit has had some bright, sunny days, usually following a major blizzard, which has happened more frequently this winter. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

They've become a near-weekly occurrence, shutting down the city and sending social media into a frenzy every time.

Recently, a blizzard cut the Nunavut Mining Symposium short and then, exactly a week later, shut the city down on Wednesday afternoon, April 13.

David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, said the number of blowing snow days in the capital this year has been incredible.

"It's really been torturous and as somebody from the south, I shouldn't have complained at all about the weather we got here," he said.

Environment Canada doesn't track how many times it issues blizzard warnings, which are for scenarios with less than 400 metres of visibility and winds above 40 km/h, but it does track the number of hours of "blowing snow" conditions, which means high wind and visibility below 800 metres.

Between January and March, the average number of days with blowing snow is 27. In those months this year, there have been 58 such days. Thanks to the blizzards continuing in April, the total for this year is up to 66 days.

The total hours of blowing snow makes the picture even more dramatic.

As of April 14, there had been 1,059 hours of blowing snow conditions in Iqaluit this year. The average is only 268.

The harshest stretch was March 15 to 20, which had 116 consecutive hours of blowing snow.

"That must have been one of the worst possible stretches, not only this winter but in many winters," said Phillips.

Southern weather can be blamed for this unusual year.

"Clearly, what we saw was a preponderance of weather systems coming up from the south," said Phillips.

Storms born in the United States or Atlantic Canada moved their way up north, headed to Iqaluit, Pangnirtung and Clyde River.

Those systems have brought warm air and precipitation, which has caused the strong winds and snow.

Phillips, however, thinks the worst might be over, seeing clear conditions two weeks ahead.

One staple of the blizzards this year has been the chaos they've caused on the roads.

If a blizzard hasn't hit fully yet, everyone might go to work, and when the blizzard hits at noon, the city shuts down and somehow people have to get home.

The Government of Nunavut clarified its directive during bad weather events in a post on Facebook.

"As a reminder, people living in Arctic conditions can expect to work, as well as travel to and from work, in bad weather," read the statement.

"We realize this can sometimes be confusing and frustrating, especially with different messaging coming from other sources, such as a hamlet or city office."

If a hamlet or city office declares the roads are closed, the deputy minister of finance will immediately issue a community-wide closure.

If at any time a GN employee fears for his or her safety driving on the roads, that person can use leave to stay home.

"If you do not feel safe travelling to work, stay home and advise your employer that you will take leave instead," said the statement.

The unusually harsh weather hasn't been the same for all the Arctic, though.

Grise Fiord has been spared the blizzard-heavy year and instead has seen crisp, clear weather, perfect for hunting.

"Very fortunately, we haven't had any strong blizzard winds since January," said Larry Audlaluk, the hamlet's economic development officer.

"The hunting has been excellent. People have now started going long-distance hunting, in terms of hunting for caribou north of Grise Fiord."

Hunters have been successful with caribou, polar bear and muskox this year.

"Hunting for seal is good this year," said Audlaluk. "In the beginning of March, there were a few ptarmigan, which is a delicacy for us."

Despite the great weather, Audlaluk said people still have to be careful on the land.

"The weather has been such a welcome thing," he said. "I don't think it will be very long before people start going out on more lengthy camping trips. I'm optimistic and hopefully we're going to have a great spring."

Blowing snow days in Iqaluit

*as of April 14

Source: Environment Canada

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