Environment Canada has issued a Yellow Warning for heavy rain in Rankin Inlet and the surrounding Kivalliq coast, including Whale Cove, with 20 to 40 millimetres expected to fall starting Monday evening and continuing into Tuesday morning.
The warning, posted early Monday, forecasts rain that will be heavy at times before slowly tapering off during the day on Tuesday. Officials say the ground has a reduced ability to absorb the rainfall, which means water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas. Visibility could also drop suddenly, making travel difficult.
For Rankin Inlet, this is a significant event. The hamlet typically sees only about 22 millimetres of rain for the entire month of June. Getting that much or more in a single storm puts extra strain on local streets and drainage, which a 2018 auditor general report found are not well prepared for heavier precipitation tied to a changing climate.
Nunavut is warming twice as fast as the global average, a shift linked to more frequent extreme weather like heavy rain and flooding. The community’s aging utilidor, the Arctic water and sewer system built in the 1970s, is already facing age-related wear and permafrost damage. A full replacement is pegged at $15 million, and heavy rain adds more stress to that aging infrastructure.
Residents are encouraged to keep an eye on updated forecasts and report any severe weather by calling 1-800-239-0484 or emailing [email protected].
