A violent Piteraq storm strikes Kuummiut village in March 2011. The Piteraq is a katabatic wind. Intensely cold heavy air drains off the Greenland ice cap. The cold descending air is channelled through the valleys and can blow at 40-80 metres per second. The Piteraq is characterised by deep blue skies, intense sunlight, clear dry air and much blowing snow which can obscure visibility. Most people stay indoors during a Piteraq. This Piteraq followed a period of overcast weather and heavy snowfall. The Piteraq strips the snow from the land and breaks up the fjord pack ice. This is one of a series of short videos about East Greenland: East Greenland 1932 & 1967, Ukiuunera-The Winter Season, Tunumi-The East Greenland Coast, Qamutseq-The Dog Team, & Sermilikmuut -Journey to Sermilik.

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