Image: screenshot of video from the near-zero visibility blizzard posted by Nunavut resident Connie Naulaq on Twitter, Feb 29.
Environment Canada warned residents and visitors to Northern Canada that a blizzard, consisting of heavy snow and high winds, was making it nearly impossible to see.
“Environment Canada warned visibility would be ‘near zero’ at times in northern Canada as a blizzard hit Nunavut on Thursday, February 29,” Storyful reported. “A blizzard warning was in effect for Iqaluit, with Environment Canada warning of up to 35 cm (13.7 inches) of snowfall and wind gusts as high as 90 km/h (56 mph). Businesses in the city closed due to the weather.”
Iqaluit’s temperatures are well below normal for the end of winter. Normal daily highs are inching up to 13℉ by March, but the high temperature on March 4 was -18℉. The low dipped to -31℉, well below the normal low temperature for March of -8℉, with wind chills making it feel like -54℉.
Blizzard conditions continued into early March with CBC news reporting that schools, businesses, and city offices remained closed.
“Iqaluit residents woke up to massive snow drifts Friday morning after a blizzard swept through the city the day before,” wrote CBC. “The city closed down Thursday morning and reopened at 3 p.m. local time on Friday, though all city facilities remain closed.
“‘As snow clearing activities are still underway, residents are advised to exercise extreme caution,’ city communications and customer service manager Aleksey Cameron wrote in a public service announcement,” reported CBC. “The city had also advised residents to stay off the roads earlier in the day.”