Igloolik, Nunavut, is in for a stretch of unseasonably warm and sunny weather over the next several days, according to Environment Canada. Temperatures are expected to climb well above the seasonal normals, with highs reaching up to 17°C on Friday.
The forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud, with Wednesday and Thursday bringing sunny skies and highs of 10°C and 12°C respectively. Tuesday will see showers and a high of 14°C. By comparison, the normal maximum temperature for this time of year is just 4°C, with a normal minimum of 0°C.
The warm spell comes as Igloolik enters its final weeks of open-water season before freeze-up, which usually happens by the end of October. The community of about 1,700 people, located on an island in Foxe Basin, relies heavily on the open water for hunting and travel during the brief summer. Residents typically hunt seal, walrus, and whales in open water, and the current conditions provide ideal opportunities for those activities. Muskox and caribou hunting seasons also run from August through October, making this weather window particularly valuable for harvesters.
The extended daylight hours add to the favourable conditions, with sunrise at 5:41 AM and sunset at 9:11 PM. This gives residents ample time to get outdoors and enjoy the warm clear days.
This week’s forecast significantly exceeds the average August high of 8°C and low of 3°C, making it a notable weather event for the community. The Arctic has been warming at twice the global average rate, and surface air temperatures from October 2024 through September 2025 were the warmest recorded since 1900.
