Blizzard prompts shutdown in Iqaluit and beyond

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 officesinIqaluitmade 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.Nanookschool in Apexclosed earlier this morning.

The hospital is open for emergencies only.First Air also cancelled many flights in and out ofIqaluit.

Offices for theQulliqEnergy Corporation and NunavutTunngavikare also closed (in both Iqaluit and Rankin).

Schoolsand Government of Nunavut officesare also closed in these communities:

• Arviat
• Rankin Inlet
• Baker Lake
• Chesterfield Inlet
• Coral Harbour (just for the morning)
• CapeDorset
• Kimmirut
• Whale Cove

Early Wednesday morningEnvironment Canada posted blizzard warnings throughout the Kivalliq andin Iqaluit, CapeDorset,ClydeRiver andKimmirut.

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.

InPangnirtung,people can expect strong winds of 50 km/h with gusts to 100 strong enough to cause damage to buildings.