Strong Winds Strike P.E.I., Schools Closed, Thousands Lose Power
Strong winds have led to widespread disruptions across Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.). On Friday, all public schools were closed due to dangerous travel conditions, and thousands of residents experienced power outages. As of early morning, over 5,500 Maritime Electric customers were without electricity, particularly in the Stratford area. At one point, outages affected nearly 22,200 customers.
Severe Weather Alerts
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for Kings County. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach speeds of up to 90 km/h. This severe weather may cause damage and hazardous travel across the province. The agency also issued a snow squall watch, indicating potential snowfall accumulation of more than five centimeters due to cold winds blowing over the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Visibility Concerns
Meteorologist Tina Simpkin warned that visibility will be severely impacted. Light flurries combined with strong winds will create drifting snow and blowing snow conditions. This could lead to hazardous driving conditions across P.E.I.
- Residents are advised to remain indoors until visibility improves.
- Areas with open fields may experience significant snow accumulation on roads.
Impact on Services
Many health services in P.E.I. have postponed their openings. Islanders are encouraged to check the Health P.E.I. website for the latest updates regarding service availability.
Transportation Restrictions
The Confederation Bridge’s operation has also been affected. Currently, it is restricted to vehicles towing trailers, motorcycles, high-sided vehicles, trucks, and buses. Wind speeds on the bridge reached approximately 82 km/h, with gusts hitting 102 km/h.
Cancelled Ferry Services
All ferry crossings between Caribou, Nova Scotia, and Wood Islands, P.E.I., have been cancelled for the day due to the severe weather conditions.
