Strong winds in N.W.T. expected to reach Nunavut overnight

Strong winds continue to move eastward across the Northwest Territories and are expected to reach communities in Nunavut overnight or early Monday morning according to Environment Canada.

As of 3:45 p.m. Sunday, wind warnings from the weather agency remained in effect for the Yellowknife, Łútselk'e, Wekweètı̀, Whatı̀ and Behchokǫ̀ in the N.W.T. The wind, which could gust up to 90 kilometres per hour, is expected to taper off in those communities later in the afternoon.

Environment Canada has also issued wind warnings for Arviat, Bake Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove in Nunavut, saying strong winds from the same low pressure system are expected to reach those communities overnight or early Monday morning.

Winds could gust up to 90 kilometres per hour, said Environment Canada, but in Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove, they could reach nearly 110 kilometres per hour. The winds are expected to taper off sometime on Monday.

Environment Canada says there's "significant risk" the winds will cause damage — as it tosses around loose objects and breaks tree branches. Power outages are possible and they also warn that the wind could damage buildings by tearing off roof singles and breaking windows.

Environment Canada began warning Sahtu communities of Norman Wells, Tulita and Délı̨nę, about the strong winds on Saturday evening.  Those warnings were dropped mid Sunday morning.

According to Environment Canada, winds had gusted up to 87 kilometres an hour in Tulita at around 5 a.m Sunday, and to 64 kilometres an hour shortly after in Délı̨nę. As of midday Sunday, a weather station at Pilots Monument in Yellowknife had clocked a maximum wind speed of 82 kilometres an hour.