High winds expected to drop this afternoon in Grise Fiord
Hamlet has seen winds as high as 110 km/h over past two days
High winds are beginning to die down in Nunavut's northernmost community.
Over the last two days Grise Fiord has seen winds as high as 110 km/h.
“The community is basically shut down,” said Cpl. Terry Burns, an RCMP officer in Grise Fiord, yesterday.
“Most of the stores — there is only one store here — but the one store is closed and all the hamlet workers are home because the winds are too high. I don’t think the schools are open.”
Umimmak School is open this morning and people are out and about in the hamlet of about 150 people.
However, a weather warning from Environment Canada at 4 a.m. says the community could see wind gusts up to 90 km/h this morning, dropping to below warning criteria by the afternoon.
“Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur,” the warning reads. “Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage.”
On Monday night a piece of chipboard was picked up in the wind, knocking a mirror off the RCMP’s only truck and denting it.
There's no auto body shop in the community.
The RCMP has ordered a new mirror, but they'll have to deal with the dents.