Tuktoyaktuk, NT, is in for a cool and soggy week as a wet weather pattern brings temperatures well below the late-June average. Environment Canada says the hamlet on the Arctic Ocean coast will see highs ranging from 5°C to 14°C through the coming days, well short of the normal high of 17°C for this time of year.
Rain is expected to be a steady companion. About 5 to 10 millimetres is forecast for Sunday, with wet conditions likely returning later in the week. Tuesday stays mainly cloudy with a 60 percent chance of morning showers and temperatures steady near 5°C. By Thursday, rain is expected to become more persistent, accompanied by windy conditions that will stretch into Friday.
No weather alerts are in effect, but the damp, chilly stretch could put a damper on outdoor plans and travel. Many of Tuktoyaktuk’s roughly 937 residents rely on hunting, fishing and trapping, and the unseasonably cool, rainy spell may make those activities more difficult. The community sits at the northern end of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway and is the only place on the Arctic Ocean connected to the rest of Canada by road.
This week’s forecast is a stark contrast to seasonal norms for the area. By late June, Tuktoyaktuk’s subarctic climate typically delivers the start of its brief summer warmth, with average highs around 17°C and lows near 7°C. Instead, temperatures are hovering in the single digits, with overnight lows dipping to 3°C and daytime readings struggling to climb out of the single digits.
Environment Canada’s forecast for Tuktoyaktuk shows the cool, wet pattern persisting through the end of the week. While temperatures may edge up slightly by mid-week, they are expected to remain well below normal. The community can look for some improvement early next week, but for now, residents will need to bundle up and keep rain gear handy.
