Blizzards in Iqaluit, Nuuk delay Arctic Winter Games travel

Stormy weather has led to closures throughout Iqaluit, and will delay travel for athletes heading to the Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland.

​Environment Canada is forecasting ongoing blizzard conditions into Friday evening in Iqaluit with an additional five to 10 centimetres of snowfall expected and winds gusting to 80 km/h.

The storm eased in the early afternoon, prompting Government of Nunavut to reopen its offices. However, hours later conditions worsened and by 4 p.m. the territory's offices shut down for the day and the City of Iqaluit removed its vehicles from the roads. Municipal services will resume at 6 a.m. Saturday.  

The weather has forced organizers to delay travel to the Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland — which is also expecting harsh weather today. 

"It was a tough decision with the host society," said Nunavut chef de mission Mariele DePeuter, "to push back the arrive of team Nunavut by 24 hours."

The team will now be leaving March 5, said DePeuter, who's already in Nuuk. 

The first flight will leave Yellowknife at 8 a.m. Saturday, then 11:20 from Rankin Inlet. They'll meet up in the Baffin to start heading to Nuuk on Saturday afternoon. 

"Because most of the teams have had to push back their arrivals as well, opening ceremonies have been pushed back until Sunday evening," DePeuter said.

Team Alberta North and Team N.W.T. have also delayed departures by 24 hours.

All Team Yukon flights leaving Whitehorse remain as scheduled," ched de mission Trevor Twardochleb confirmed Friday. 

However, the hockey team will not be going to Nuuk for the opening ceremonies as originally planned. Instead, the teams will head straight to Iqaluit to prepare for competition, and will be flown to Nuuk later. 

Twardochleb suggests athletes pack carry-on items they may want if there are delays in Kangerlussuaq, an air hub in Greenland north of Nuuk.

​Iqaluit schools, daycares closed

All Iqaluit schools were closed this morning. Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Nunavut Tunngavik offices were also closed but reopened at 1 p.m. Services at the Nunavut Court of Justice reopened after it was closed in the morning, however court appearances are adjourned until Monday. The Nunvaut Legislative Assembly reopened, but MLAs are not sitting. 

Other closures include:

• All daycares
• Iqaluit Housing Authority
• Indigenous Affairs and Northern Development
• The hospital is open only for emergencies

Iqaluit airport expected to be busy

 Even without weather delays, the Iqaluit airport is expected to be busy this weekend and next as athletes arrive and depart for the Games, and the Government of Nunavut is warning passengers to be prepared for the congestion.

It says scheduled passengers will have access to the terminal and airport parking lot, but space will be limited. Athletic teams will receive priority.

On March 11, when athletes return to Canada from Greenland, it says the entire terminal will be required to clear them through customs.

The Arctic Winter Games opening ceremony is Sunday.