The first supplies in nine days have reached Nunavut's Kivalliq region after a series of blizzards prevented cargo planes from touching down in the area.

The storm let up enough to allow Wednesday's shipment of fresh produce and other supplies — the first to arrive in nine days. But snow and high winds are forecast for Thursday.

The blizzards had left bakery shelves and other grocery sections low on stock at the Kissarvik Co-op in Rankin Inlet earlier this week.
(Jackie Sharkey/CBC)

The CBC's Jackie Sharkey, who was on the scene in Rankin Inlet, said visibility has been 800 metres, making it impossible for cargo planes to land. Air transport is the main way food is shipped into the area along the western shore of Hudson Bay.

Grocery store shelves have been bare of bread, milk and dairy products. But many residents had stocked up and have been using flour to make their own bread, Sharkey reported.

But power outages continue to plague the residents. In Rankin Inlet, about 10 houses have been on half-power for six days because of the blizzards, said Peter Mackey, a spokesman for the Qulliq Energy Corporation.

Mackey said the blizzard that hit Rankin Inlet Tuesday night knocked out the power phase — either at the fuse or at the transformer base. This caused the circuits for stoves and other items not to work in affected houses.

Mackey said Qulliq Energy has been trying to get it repaired for several days, but the blizzard has left the region's linesmen stuck nearly 500 kilometres away in Coral Harbour.

"We've attempted several days in a row to get them out on a charter back to Rankin to do some repairs. But so far, the weather in Rankin hasn't been co-operating with us."

Emma Tatty, who lives in one of the homes affected by the power outage, said her family are "doing all right" but making it through a blizzard with only partial power.

"We don't have a stove, no hot water. And half of the rooms, no light," she said.