NWT WeatherWarm N.W.T. weather both boon and concern
Last updated Jan 3 2006 01:44 PM CST
CBC News
Warmer-than-usual temperatures have prompted road closures, ferry delays and river overflow danger throughout the Northwest Territories.
While many residents are welcoming the break from the territory's usually-bitter winter temperatures, it's a cause for concern for others who rely on the cold for transport.
Climatologists say the warming trend in the N.W.T. has been caused by mild Pacific air making its way north. Instead of the usual -25 to -30C temperatures, Yellowknife was basking in -3C temperatures on New Year's Day.
The capital also experienced its warmest December on record.
FROM DEC. 29, 2005: Yellowknife breaks weather record
Warm weather may cause headaches for those building ice roads to the diamond mines.
For Lindsey Bolivar, who's just made Canada's senior biathlon team and is heading to Europe for competition, the warm weather is a nice change for training.
"Absolutely amazing, it's unbelievable how warm it is and there's so much snow," she says. "It's just great."
While residents of the capital are out enjoying the land more because of the mild temperatures, authorities are warning the unseasonable warm can lead to accidents, especially for those travelling on lakes surrounding the city.
"We have had reports of areas out there that have open water in areas that have been frozen over in previous years," says Yellowknife deputy fire chief Chucker Dewar. "So it's not a normal freezing situation, so we ask people to use extreme caution."
The warm weather could also be a problem for the N.W.T.'s three diamond mines.
In February, hundreds of transport trucks are due to begin the convoy of supplies across 500 kilometres of ice road to the mines.
Construction on that road is slated to begin this month, but warm weather may slow down that process. Over the last decade, the number of days the ice roads have remained open in the N.W.T. has dropped, as warm temperatures delay opening and force earlier closings.
However, for most N.W.T. residents, the warm spell is a reprieve, especially with the high cost of heating fuel.
The warmer than normal temperatures are expected to carry on into January.
(with notes from Jennifer Tilden)