North

Iqaluit snowier than usual this spring, confirms Environment Canada

During a stretch of 18 days between March and April there were about 150 hours of snowfall, dropping about 56 centimetres of snow on Nunavut's capital.

Blizzards were 'lined up like bowling balls' says climatologist

Brandon Alger's Iqaluit home sits beneath a mountain of snow after the city was hit with a 50-hour blizzard in March, one of several this spring. (submitted by Hillary Casey)

If you think Iqaluit has seen more snow than usual this spring, you're right.

David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, says that during a stretch of 18 days between the end of March and beginning of April there were about 150 hours of snowfall, dropping about 56 centimetres of snow on Nunavut's capital.

That's seven times the amount of snow the city would normally get during that time.

Blizzard days in Iqaluit could be wrapping up, says Environment Canada. (Sara Minogue/CBC)

"You're into this kind of a pattern like we saw last summer when you had so many rain days," he said.

"[Blizzards are] lined up like bowling balls on the bowling rack, just coming one after another or like jumbo jets all coming in. One comes in and dumps its load, then you wait a couple of days, not even a couple of days, and the next one comes in."

Phillips said blizzard days in Iqaluit could be wrapping up as he sees a lot of sunshine in the forecast and expects the weather to be clearer toward the end of the week, after another snowfall Wednesday and Thursday.

"I think it's exhausted," he said.

"Nature's exhausted and it's looking for a rest and I think you're going to get it towards the end of this week."

with files from Lucy Burke