Winter got off to an unusually warm start in Inuvik, but the cold has finally arrived.

SA国际影视传媒淒ecember was definitely warmer than usual,SA国际影视传媒� the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 mayor, Clarence Wood, said on Jan. 3. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e already making up for it. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 -35 today.SA国际影视传媒�

The mild December weather had a range of effects on Inuvik, which sits roughly 200 km above the Arctic Circle and is home to approximately 3,200 people.

SA国际影视传媒淭he ice crossing on the Mackenzie River couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 open in a normal time frame and was delayed,SA国际影视传媒� the mayor said, which hampered travel and resupplies. The increased snowfall that came with the warmer weather also saw the municipality SA国际影视传媒渟pending double on snow clearing,SA国际影视传媒� he added.

Some 350 km to the southwest, but still above the Arctic Circle, the small community of Colville Lake has also finally experienced familiar winter temperatures in the low -30s, but had a similarly balmy start to the season.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 new,SA国际影视传媒� said senior administrative officer and Behdzi Ahda First Nation band manager Joseph Kochon, who has called the community of just over 100 people home for his entire life. SA国际影视传媒淚t was kind of a slow start. Normally, we open up our winter road before Christmas, and even though we had a late start, the workers worked day and night and they managed to open the winter road before Christmas. The pressure was on, and they managed to do it for the resupplies for our Co-op and our fuel.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been waiting for the cold weather, and now itSA国际影视传媒檚 here and weSA国际影视传媒檙e enjoying it. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e really happy that itSA国际影视传媒檚 here, because the ice rating depends on the cold weather, so we canSA国际影视传媒檛 really get any resupply until the ice thickens up,SA国际影视传媒� Kochon explained.

Further to the southeast, in the Tlicho community of Behchoko, things werenSA国际影视传媒檛 much different to start this winter, though temperatures have also plummeted down to the low -30s.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a big change in temperature,SA国际影视传媒� said Monfwi MLA and Behchoko resident Jane Weyallon Armstrong. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not like before. The winter has started, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 taking longer, and if we do have ice roads, itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a shorter season.SA国际影视传媒�

Reactions to the changing winter climate in the NWT vary depending on who you speak to, and where they live. Many people in communities like Fort Simpson and Nahanni Butte, which depend on ice crossings for access to the rest of Canada, are calling for the creation of all-season bridges to mitigate the effects of slower freezes.

As an MLA, Weyallon Armstrong believes council must support those calls, contending SA国际影视传媒渨e need to focus on the infrastructure.SA国际影视传媒�

Others, however, have a more passive reaction to the changing weather, such as Colville LakeSA国际影视传媒檚 Kochon.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 not much you can do,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hatever nature offers is what we have to accept. We just have to adapt as it comes. You donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to talk about it, you donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to make a big deal about it, it just comes as nature does, and we just have to accept it.SA国际影视传媒�