Snowfall and strong winds from abnormally warm temperatures this Christmas season have meant anyone who travelled in the Beaufort Delta for the holidays is staying put for the time being.
An update to the Beaufort Delta highway condition report released at 9:34 a.m. Dec. 27 notes that all major road connections are closed due to blowing snow limiting visibility. The Dempster Highway is closed between Fort McPherson and Eagle Plains, as well as between Fort McPherson and Inuvik. The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway is also closed.
Environment Canada has issued a blowing snow advisory for Inuvik, a snowfall warning for Paulatuk and a blizzard advisory for Tuktoyaktuk.
“Poor visibility in snow and blowing snow will continue,” reads the Inuvik advisory. “Falling snow combined with winds gusting near 60 km/h from the northwest will bring blowing snow to the area. The visibility will improve late this afternoon when the winds begin to taper off. Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations. Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero. Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Blowing snow advisories are issued when winds are expected to create blowing snow giving poor visibility to 800 metres or less for at least three hours.
“Blizzard conditions with poor visibility in snow and blowing snow are expected today and tonight. Heavy snow and strong winds will continue today,” reads the Tuktoyaktuk blizzard warning. “Snowfall will bring up to 20 cm to the area by Thursday morning. Winds gusting up to 70 km/h will give poor visibility in blowing snow mainly overnight tonight. Conditions will improve Thursday morning when the snowfall tapers off and the winds begin to ease. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight. Blizzard warnings are issued when widespread reduced visibilities of 400 metres or less are expected for at least six hours.
“Heavy snow will continue today bringing 10 to 20 cm by the time the snow tapers off tonight. Periods of light snow will linger through the day on Thursday,” reads the Paulatuk snowfall warning. “Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight. Snowfall warnings are issued when significant snowfall is expected.”
Warmer than seasonal temperatures have also limited work on ice crossings. As of Dce. 27, only the Peel River ice crossing is open to vehicles up to 50,000 kilograms. The temporary access to Tsiigehtchic and Mackenzie River Crossing remain limited to 20,000 and 28,000 kg, respectively. The main winter access to the community is still closed, as is the Aklavik Ice Road. The latest the Aklavik ice road has opened is Jan. 15.
As of Dec. 27, Environment Canada’s historical weather archives does not show a single day where temperatures dropped below -30 C in December of 2023 for the regions of Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok. Only Aklavik and Fort McPherson dropped below -30 C this month.
Environment Canada lists upcoming temperatures going into this week as an “abnormal temperature trend.”
For information on emergency plans and kits go to getprepared.gc.ca.
