NWT’s first extreme cold warning of the winter is issued

Norman Wells and Tulita are the subjects of the Northwest Territories’ first extreme cold warning for the winter of 2024-25.

Environment Canada’s advisory, issued on Wednesday afternoon, warns of extremely cold conditions beginning on Wednesday night with wind chill values near -50.

Conditions are expected to persist on Thursday before the cold eases a little on Friday.

The overnight low without wind chill in Norman Wells is expected to be -38C between Wednesday and Thursday.

The Sahtu community has been battling extraordinarily high home heating fuel costs that the town’s lone supplier, Imperial Oil, has blamed on the need to fly in fuel after low water levels ruined the summer barge resupply season.

Earlier this month, the NWT government said it would step in and subsidize heating fuel costs in the town to try to avoid projected heating bills of $5,000 or more per month for some families.

Elsewhere, Fort Simpson and Inuvik are both expected to dip below -30C as the week goes on. Yellowknife’s temperature is expected to sink to -35C on Thursday morning before recovering.