Blizzard prompts shutdown in Iqaluit and beyond
All Iqaluit schools are now closed; hospital open only for emergencies
The City of Iqaluit has suspended municipal services and schools and government offices are closed as a blizzard, once again, takes over the city.
Schools and offices in Iqaluit made the call to close around 10:30 a.m., including all schools run by the Iqaluit District Education Authority. Shortly after, the City of Iqaluit suspended municipal services and the Government of Nunavut closed its offices in Iqaluit. Nanook school in Apex closed earlier this morning.
The hospital is open for emergencies only. First Air also cancelled many flights in and out of Iqaluit.
Offices for the Qulliq Energy Corporation and Nunavut Tunngavik are also closed (in both Iqaluit and Rankin).
Schools and Government of Nunavut offices are also closed in these communities:
- Arviat
- Rankin Inlet
- Baker Lake
- Chesterfield Inlet
- Coral Harbour (just for the morning)
- Cape Dorset
- Kimmirut
- Whale Cove
Early Wednesday morning Environment Canada posted blizzard warnings throughout the Kivalliq and in Iqaluit, Cape Dorset, Clyde River and Kimmirut.
Heavy snow and strong southeast winds are expected to develop this morning and into the evening.
The agency says the weather system could see wind gusts up to 90 km/h this afternoon and bring snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 centimetres by early Thursday morning.
In Pangnirtung, people can expect strong winds of 50 km/h with gusts to 100 — strong enough to cause damage to buildings.