Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) lifted a multi-day extreme cold warning for the island community of Igloolik, Nunavut, on February 6, 2026. The alert was ended as wind chill values began to rise from a life‑threatening low of -55°C toward a relatively less severe -40°C.
Although the Extreme Cold Warning was lifted, ECCC says the region remains in a significant cold spell. At -40°C, frostbite can still occur on exposed skin within minutes, especially in windy conditions. Residents are being urged to continue dressing in warm, layered clothing through the weekend.
The extreme conditions over the past several days forced many traditional hunters to pause harvesting and put stress on community infrastructure — for example, water pipes and fuel delivery systems — as cold snaps of this severity increase the risk of equipment failure and frozen lines. Climate Change Nunavut notes Igloolik faces particular challenges during deep freezes because it sits on a small island in the Foxe Basin.
Warning thresholds in Nunavut differ from those in southern Canada. In much of Nunavut (outside parts of Baffin Island), ECCC generally issues extreme cold warnings at around -55°C; Baffin Island often uses a -50°C threshold. These regional thresholds are set in consultation with territorial health authorities and reflect how frequently severe cold occurs and local preparedness and infrastructure, as reported by Nunatsiaq News.
Even with the warning lifted, the shift from -55°C toward -40°C marks a move from an “extreme risk” classification toward a “high risk” classification, but conditions remain hazardous and residents are advised to follow ECCC guidance on cold-weather safety.
