Nunavut community sees Canada’s first winter storm warning of the season
After a summer of forest fires and heat waves, Canada is already seeing its first winter storm warning of the season -- with up to 40 cm of snow forecast
It’s ‘snow’ joke – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a winter storm warning on Tuesday for the Clyde River region on the northern reaches of Baffin Island, Canada’s largest island.
As fires burn to the west in the Northwest Territories, a potent low-pressure system is going to blast Baffin Island with heavy snowfall and gusty winds of 60-90 km/h. The snowfall could accumulate anywhere between 20-40 cm of snow for the Clyde River area.
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In combination with the strong winds, blowing snow will create almost near-zero visibility at times. This will be a dangerous hazard for anyone travelling through the region from late Tuesday until Thursday when the winds finally ease.
You might be thinking, "A snowstorm? Near the middle of September?!" However, this sort of weather isn’t totally unusual for the region, which typically receives 27.7cm of snow during September.
To the southeast of Clyde River, in Pangnirtung, ECCC issued a rainfall warning due to the same low-pressure system bringing this heavy snow. Pangnirtung can expect to see 20-40 mm of rainfall by Wednesday before tapering off on Thursday.
ECCC also warns residents to be on alert for localized flooding and possible washouts.
Thumbnail image courtesy of Jill Wellington/Pixabay.
