The community of Tuktoyaktuk is bracing for a weekend of blizzard conditions predicted to begin Friday, with winds gusting up to 90 km per hour. Snow and blowing snow is predicted to reduce visibility to “near zero.”
Environment Canada has issued a storm surge and an “orange watch” for the area.
Orange watches are part of the federal agency’s new color coded system introduced in late November, warning that severe weather is likely to cause major damage, disruption or health impacts.
“Blizzard conditions are likely, starting late Friday. This may be a major storm,” said the weather agency.
“Snow and blowing snow is expected to begin Friday. Blizzard conditions are forecast to begin by Friday night.”
The storm is expected to continue over the weekend.
“Blowing snow or blizzard conditions in only slightly weaker winds may continue into Sunday morning,” said Environment Canada.
The federal agency has advised travellers to consider rescheduling travel in the area and said there may be “prolonged disruptions to transportation, services, and utilities.”
Mayor Erwin Elias of Tuktoyaktuk spoke with North Now earlier this year about the community’s concerns over coastal erosion which intensified over the last 30 years.
A wall of rock dubbed “the Great Wall of Tuktoyaktuk” was made using over 160,000 tons of granite rock and took 8 years to build, but is yet to be complete. The wall is being built to prevent erosion and impacts from the Arctic ocean.
