Record warmth means record potholes in this Canadian city

Sunday, May 1, 2016, 3:05 PM - For many Canadians, spring means the return of sun, warmth, green ... and potholes. But a look at 'pothole season' in the north might have you feeling a little better about your commute.

Recent record warmth has Iqaluit residents wanting to head outside, but there's something standing in their way.

This season's melt, spurred by the unusually warm temperatures, prompted the City of Iqaluit to issue a statement on April 28 advising residents that the "volume of run-off exceeded the city's capacity to manage."

Iqaluit set a new record high temperature on April 28th of 6.9^oC. On the 26th, the town of Pangnirtung - some 300 km to the northeast - smashed their old record when the high reached 10.2^oC. Average April high temperatures for the region are closer to -5^oC.

Roads in Iqaluit have a history of being rough in the spring, but this year is particularly bad with the sudden warmth following on the heels of significant snowfall, as Baffin Island spent much of early and mid-April battling one blizzard after another.

Resident Craig Dunphy told CBC News, "I have not seen it this bad since the city went on strike a dozen years or so ago. Vehicles are bottoming out on some of these potholes. A woman here yesterday walked around the corner and went up past her knee."

Cracks in roadways up to half a metre deep were reported on Twitter.

The city's statement says "problem areas are being prioritized" and they are working as quickly as possible, given the limited resources available.

Meanwhile, drivers are getting creative to get around. Iqaluit resident Daniel Davidee told CBC News, "Sometimes the cab has to go on the other side of the road to avoid the potholes."

Others are reminding those who do brave the roads to kind to the pedestrians who can be unwitting victims of potholes, as well.

Sources: CBC News | Nunatsiaq Online | City of Iqaluit |