The 24-year-old man's body was found on the sea ice about four kilometres southeast of Arviat, Nunavut, on Thursday. Local RCMP did not release the man's name. (CBC)

Searchers in Arviat, Nunavut, have found the body of a young man who died while driving his snowmobile in a blizzard, while a separate search is underway in Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, for a missing elder.

RCMP in Arviat say the 24-year-old man's body was found just before 9 a.m. CT Thursday, on the sea ice about four kilometres southeast of the community.

The man went on his snowmobile Wednesday afternoon to go to a local store, according to police. Searchers found the abandoned snowmobile outside the community late that night.

"His death is not deemed as suspicious. It appears the victim became disoriented in the blizzard-like conditions," Staff Sgt. Steve Bergerman told CBC News on Thursday.

"The name of the victim is not being released to date, and his family is now coping with this tragic event."

RCMP said visibility was very poor on Wednesday, with winds gusting up to 90 kilometres an hour.

Meanwhile, search efforts continued Thursday near Chesterfield Inlet for a local elder who also went missing on Wednesday afternoon.

RCMP are not releasing the 74-year-old man's name, but they say he had travelled with another elder outside the community early Wednesday afternoon to retrieve a broken-down snowmobile.

"They got caught in the severe blizzard, and on their way back, one elder made it back to the community and one didn't make it back," said Cpl. Mario Turcotte.

Chesterfield Inlet residents are working with Canadian Rangers in the search in an area about eight kilometres south of the community.

Police say the searchers have had a tough time Thursday because of blizzard-like weather there, but conditions are expected to improve in the evening.