Environment Canada lifted a cold warning for Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, at 12:13 PM on February 19, 2026, after extreme wind chills began to ease. The alert was originally issued on Wednesday morning when conditions became hazardous for residents.
Weather readings at the Rankin Inlet Airport showed a wind chill of -42 on Thursday morning, which is a significant change from the -56 wind chill recorded on February 18. On Wednesday, the community dealt with blowing snow and winds from the northwest moving at 30 kilometres per hour.
Even though the formal warning is over, a “frostbite in minutes” notice remains in the local forecast. Residents should stay cautious as wind chills are expected to stay between -41 and -54 today, making it dangerous to have any skin exposed to the air.
Weather experts expect another burst of arctic air to arrive by Friday afternoon. Wind chills could drop back down to -50 through Saturday morning, which may lead to travel delays or impacts on daily activities in the community.
