Prince Patrick Island

Prince Patrick Island
Prince Patrick Island, showing
the Mould Bay weather station
Prince Patrick Island is located in Northwest Territories
Prince Patrick Island
Location within Northwest Territories
Prince Patrick Island is located in Canada
Prince Patrick Island
Location within Canada
Geography
LocationNorthern Canada
Coordinates76°45′02″N 119°30′12″W / 76.75056°N 119.50333°W / 76.75056; -119.50333 (Prince Patrick Island)
ArchipelagoQueen Elizabeth Islands
Arctic Archipelago
Area15,792.19 km2 (6,097.40 sq mi)(2026)
Area rank14th in Canada & 55th worldwide
Highest elevation279 m (915 ft)
Highest pointunnamed
Administration
Canada
Northwest Territories
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited

A member of the Arctic Archipelago, Prince Patrick Island is the westernmost of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in the Northwest Territories of Canada, lying northwest of Melville Island. The area of Prince Patrick Island is 15,792.19 km2 (6,097.40 sq mi),}} making it the 55th largest island in the world and Canada's 14th largest island. It has historically been icebound all year, making it one of the least accessible parts of Canada. Located at the entrance of the M'Clure Strait, Prince Patrick Island is uninhabited. The first known sighting of the island by Europeans was in 1853 by the Irish born Royal Navy officer George Mecham, when it was explored by him and his fellow Irish explorer Leopold McClintock in the spring of that year during the Edward Belcher expedition. Much later, it was named for Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught, who was Governor General of Canada from 1911 to 1916. The island rises to only about 279 m (915 ft), and the area is seismically active.

Weather Station

A High Arctic Weather Station ("HAWS") and associated airstrip called Mould Bay were opened in 1948 as part of a joint Canada-United States military effort to support a weather station network. Regular weather observations began on May 14, 1948. It had a temporary staff of between 10 and 40 people. Staff size normally increased during summer months, when the station was resupplied from the south. During the period of the United States National Weather Service participation, the site was known as a Joint Arctic Weather Station ("JAWS"). Executive officers alternated between Canadians and their United States counterparts. United States participation ended in 1972. The station was closed in 1997, owing to budget cuts. It was replaced with an automated weather station at a new location on the airstrip, downhill from the central buildings and observatory. The last staffed weather observations were taken on March 31, 1997, ending the continuous weather record of 1948–1997. The buildings still stand, most have deteriorated to an unrepairable state. The station represented the only known long-term human settlement of the Island.

Mould Bay Weather Station in July 2017, more than 22 years following abandonment.
Mould Bay Weather Station in July 2017, more than 22 years following abandonment.

Climate

Mould Bay has a Polar climate (ET) with cool, intermittent summers[clarification needed][citation needed] and cold winters. September is the snowiest month of the year, averaging 18.5 cm (7.3 in) of snowfall.

Climate data for Mould Bay Airport, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1948–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) −5.3
(22.5)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 6.3
(43.3)		 18.0
(64.4)		 22.7
(72.9)		 16.3
(61.3)		 7.8
(46.0)		 2.5
(36.5)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 22.7
(72.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −29.4
(−20.9)		 −30.0
(−22.0)		 −27.6
(−17.7)		 −19.1
(−2.4)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 2.9
(37.2)		 6.7
(44.1)		 3.0
(37.4)		 −3.8
(25.2)		 −14.1
(6.6)		 −23.1
(−9.6)		 −27.0
(−16.6)		 −14.1
(6.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −33.1
(−27.6)		 −33.9
(−29.0)		 −31.4
(−24.5)		 −23.0
(−9.4)		 −10.4
(13.3)		 0.6
(33.1)		 4.0
(39.2)		 0.9
(33.6)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 −17.7
(0.1)		 −26.6
(−15.9)		 −30.5
(−22.9)		 −17.3
(0.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −36.9
(−34.4)		 −37.6
(−35.7)		 −34.9
(−30.8)		 −26.8
(−16.2)		 −13.5
(7.7)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 −8.5
(16.7)		 −21.3
(−6.3)		 −30.2
(−22.4)		 −34.0
(−29.2)		 −20.4
(−4.7)
Record low °C (°F) −52.2
(−62.0)		 −53.9
(−65.0)		 −54.7
(−66.5)		 −46.1
(−51.0)		 −29.6
(−21.3)		 −14.4
(6.1)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −13.5
(7.7)		 −26.1
(−15.0)		 −38.9
(−38.0)		 −44.4
(−47.9)		 −52.8
(−63.0)		 −54.7
(−66.5)
Record low wind chill −72.8 −72.0 −70.1 −60.5 −39.2 −22.5 −10.8 −17.3 −35.0 −52.3 −57.9 −68.8 −72.8
Average precipitation mm (inches) 4.5
(0.18)		 4.6
(0.18)		 4.2
(0.17)		 3.4
(0.13)		 10.8
(0.43)		 9.8
(0.39)		 13.8
(0.54)		 23.8
(0.94)		 18.1
(0.71)		 12.9
(0.51)		 6.7
(0.26)		 4.5
(0.18)		 117.2
(4.61)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 3.6
(0.14)		 10.0
(0.39)		 11.7
(0.46)		 2.2
(0.09)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 27.5
(1.08)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 5.4
(2.1)		 5.8
(2.3)		 5.1
(2.0)		 4.7
(1.9)		 15.0
(5.9)		 6.6
(2.6)		 3.8
(1.5)		 12.9
(5.1)		 18.5
(7.3)		 16.1
(6.3)		 9.0
(3.5)		 6.3
(2.5)		 109.2
(43.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 6.1 6.6 6.4 4.9 10.1 6.3 9.0 13.3 12.8 11.6 9.6 6.9 103.6
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.9 7.8 6.2 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 18.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 6.6 6.9 6.8 5.8 12.2 4.2 3.4 8.9 12.5 12.2 10.0 7.1 96.5
Average relative humidity (%) 69.5 67.4 64.6 73.2 82.0 81.3 79.6 84.8 88.2 80.3 73.3 69.6 76.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 0.0 0.0 97.9 287.5 267.9 297.2 254.1 121.0 49.6 15.5 0.0 0.0 1,390.5
Percentage possible sunshine 0.0 0.0 27.8 49.9 36.0 41.3 34.2 17.4 11.6 6.9 0.0 0.0 25.0
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Prince Patrick Island". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ↑ "Prince Patrick Island". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  3. 1 2 "Global Islands (USGS, ESRI, UNEP-WCMC)". March 16, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Global Islands (USGS, ESRI, UNEP-WCMC) - USGSEsriWCMC GlobalIslandsv3 BigIslands". March 16, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ M'Dougall, George F. (1857). The eventful voyage of H.M. discovery ship "Resolute" to the Arctic regions, in search of Sir John Franklin and the missing crews of H.M. discovery ships "Erebus" and "Terror," 1852, 1853, 1854. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts. p. 452. The Eventful Voyages of HMS Resolute.
  6. ↑ Prince Patrick Island High Point, Northwest Territories
  7. ↑ Munro, Margaret. "Arctic research station a 'toxic ghost town'" (PDF). University of Alberta. Canwest News Service. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Mould Bay A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Climate ID: 2502700. Archived from the original (CSV (3069 KB)) on March 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ "July 2001". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  10. ↑ "June 2012". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ "August 2011". Canadian Climate Data. Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Daily Data Report for March 2017". Government of Canada. October 31, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2017.

Further reading