It is officially the warmest Jan. 12 on record P.E.I.
At 1 p.m. the reading at the Charlottetown Airport weather station was +11.7C, surpassing the previous record of 10.2 set in 1983.
Environment Canada had issued special weather statements across P.E.I. that had been in place for days, but the those storm warnings have now ended for all three counties.
A freezing rain warning remains in effect for Prince County, and rainfall warnings have also been issued for Prince and Queens counties.
The wet weather will move across P.E.I. from west to east Saturday, bring the heaviest rain to Prince County in the afternoon, and to Queens County in the evening.
The rainfall warning for Queens County says heavy rains, or downpours, may suddenly happen Saturday.
There still remains a possibility of “a significant period of freezing rain” in Queens County if a cold front moves over the Island faster than currently predicted.
All across the Island, the rain may cause local flooding problems because it is falling on frozen ground, which cannot absorb the water.
For Prince County the weather is more likely to be complex because a “sharp cold front” coming in from the northwest late Saturday could make for a significant freezing rain event.
Here is the complete warning statement:
“Rain, heavy at times, is expected. The frozen ground has a reduced ability to absorb this rainfall,” says Environment Canada.
“This system will bring rain at times heavy to the majority of the Island on Saturday, prior to a change to freezing rain over Prince County Saturday afternoon as a sharp cold front descends from the northwest. At this time 20 to 30 mm of rain is expected by Saturday afternoon for Prince County and evening for Queens County.
“For Prince County: Rain at times heavy is expected to change over to freezing rain near noon as the cold front sweeps through the region. As a result, and in addition to this warning, a freezing rain warning is in effect. At this time, a flash freeze warning is not expected.
“For Queens County: There still remains some uncertainty with the exact timing of the cold front as it tracks southeastward across the Island. Should it move through the province quicker than is currently expected, there is a possibility that a significant period of freezing rain will occur as below freezing air interacts with the warm and humid airmass currently over the region.
“Environment and Climate Change Canada will continue to monitor the situation and issue updates as new information becomes available.
“Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.”
As for today, a record high temperature has been set.
The Confederation Bridge is currently open to all traffic, but has issued its own warning, saying winds may restrict traffic anytime between now until Saturday morning around 7 a.m.
The Charlottetown Airport is showing all flights be on time.
On P.E.I. today, early morning temperatures ranged from a high of 9.1 at both St. Peters and Stanhope, to a low of 5.3 in Summerside.
WEATHER TODAY:
A mix of sun and cloud with a good chance of showers this afternoon. Fog patches.
TEMPERATURE: Rising to possible record high of +11.
WIND: Southwest, gusting to 40, to gusts up to 60 this morning.
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LIVE STREAM of downtown Charlottetown to see weather conditions there, courtesy of the P.E.I. government and The Guild
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TONIGHT’S PREDICTIONS:
Cloudy. Periods of rain beginning this evening with amounts up to 5 mm. Fog patches.
TEMPERATURE: Steady near +11.
WIND: Southwest gusting to 60, except gusting to 80 along parts of the coast.
TOMORROW’S FORECAST FOR SATURDAY, JAN. 13:
Rain at times heavy with amounts around 15 to 25 mm.
TEMPERATURE: Falling to +8 in the afternoon.
WIND: Southwest gusting to 60, except gusting to 80 along parts of the coast.
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First light – 6:42 a.m.
Civil twilight – 7:19
Official Sunrise – 7:53 a.m.
Official Sunset – 4:48 p.m.
Civil twilight ends – 5:22 p.m.
Last light – 6:00 p.m.
Moon – Rose early this morning at 3:49 a.m., and sets this afternoon at 1:49 p.m.
The official length of daylight today is 8 hours, 55 minutes.
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The highest temperature on record for Jan. 12 on P.E.I. is +10.2 set in 1983.
The lowest temperature on record for this date is –23.9 set in 1976.
For Jan. 12 on P.E.I., the average high is –3.2.
Average low for this date is -12.4.
The hot spot in Canada this morning was at Saint-Anicent, Que. where it was +13.8.
The coldest spot anywhere in Canada early this morning was at Rabbit Kettle, Northwest Territories where it was -47.0.
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Below is a live-stream camera view courtesy of Confederation Bridge to give a sense of weather conditions at that location.
