Skin freezing temperatures in Rankin Inlet close schools

Temperatures in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, are feelingbelow60 C well under the average for February and have caused the community's schools to close down.

"I don't remember the last time we actually closed due to weather. This is a bit of an extreme," said Mike Osmond, chair of the Rankin Inlet District Education Authority.

Osmond said for the past two days, the schools have "erredon the side of caution for the kids."

Temperatures are getting to 40 C before the windchill and when the winds are factored in, it feels colder than 60 C.

"You've got blustery winds with some of the coldest temperatures that people have ever experienced," said David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada, adding that his charts say skin freezesin two minutesat 55 C.

"My eyes open up when I see a windchill of 50 C,and to have windchill of 60 C, and quite likely before [today] is out, we'll see windchill of 65 C or 68 C."

These conditions are about 13 to 15 degrees colder than what it should be, he said, blaming the polar vortex a combination of cold air with a strong weather system.

Hunters warned to stay home

The situation has a well-known elder in Arviat advising hunters to not go out hunting.

Rhoda Karetak said in the past people had to search for food to survive and it was hard.

"I remember back in the 1940s, we were out camping in the wintertime and camp stove fuel almost froze. At that time the temperature went down to 60 C. We used to work even without mittens at times," she said in Inuktitut.

However, Karetak said now that people can go to the grocery store,they don't have to risk their lives hunting in extreme temperatures.She wanted to speak out aftershe heard a man was rescued recently from out on the land.

"Unlike the old days, we don't always wear caribou or sealskin clothing these days when we go out hunting."

December through January is the coldest time of the year, and Karetaksays she advises people to relax indoors, to try to keep themselves busy, and wait for spring.

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