Environment Canada was exactly on the money as a winter storm arrived just around the noon hour on P.E.I. Thursday.
Just before 9 p.m., the agency continued its snowfall warning for Prince County, and issued a freezing rain warning for both Kings and Queens counties.
Heavy snowfall is still occurring over western P.E.I., Environment Canada said in its alert.
A low-pressure system south of Nova Scotia will move east of the Island by Friday morning. Snow at times heavy will taper to flurries Thursday night. Total snowfall amounts of 15 to 20 centimetres are still expected.
The snow is accompanied by strong northeasterly winds giving reduced visibility in blowing snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas.
Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.
In Queens and Kings counties, ice buildup due to freezing rain is expected or occurring. An extended period of freezing rain is likely Thursday night, and surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous. Ice build-up may cause tree branches to break.
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Cindy Day, SaltWire Network’s chief meteorologist, will have the latest weather details Friday at www.theguardian.pe.ca/weather as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Full video weather forecasts are available at 11:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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Government offices across P.E.I. closed around 1 p.m. Thursday and the Guardian office also closed as of 1 p.m.
Schools, Holland College and UPEI closed for the day first thing Thursday morning.
Health P.E.I. said the weather forced rescheduling of afternoon primary care appointments at Cornwall Health Centre, Central Queens Health Centre, Gulf Shore Health Centre and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Charlottetown (Polyclinic).
Cancelled patient appointments are being rescheduled. Health P.E.I. reminds Islanders with appointments at hospitals, clinics and other health care services to call ahead to confirm their appointment – or notify staff if they are unable to make the appointment.
For the full list of health services impacted, visit: www.princeedwardisland.ca and click on the health alert at the top of the page.
Islanders are also reminded to call 8-1-1 for non-urgent health care advice or 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.
The Confederation Bridge was open to all traffic and of 9 p.m., but warned that wind-related restrictions might be needed anytime until just before midnight.
Check the Charlottetown airport web site for updates on flight cancellations and delays.
On P.E.I. today, early morning temperatures ranged from a high of -1.1 at East Point, to a low of -2.8 at Maple Plains.
WEATHER TODAY:
Cloudy. Snow at times heavy beginning near noon. Blowing snow over exposed areas late this morning and this afternoon. Amount 15 cm.
TEMPERATURE: Holding steady around 0.
WIND: Northeast, gusting to 40, increasing to gusts up to 60 this morning.
LIVE STREAM VIDEO of downtown Charlottetown to see weather conditions there, courtesy of the P.E.I. government and The Guild.
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TONIGHT’S PREDICTION
Periods of snow ending near midnight, then cloudy with very good chance of flurries. Blowing snow over exposed areas. Amount 5 cm.
TEMPERATURE: Steady around -1.
WIND: North, gusting to 60.
TOMORROW’S FORECAST FOR FRIDAY, March 23:
Mainly cloudy with very good chance of flurries.
TEMPERATURE: Again, steady near 0.
WIND: Northwest, gusting to 70, diminishing near noon.
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First light – 6:07 a.m.
Civil twilight – 6:43 a.m.
Official Sunrise – 7:12 a.m.
Official Sunset – 7:27 p.m.
Civil twilight ends – 7:56 p.m.
Last light – 8:32 p.m.
Moon – The moon rises this morning at 10:16 a.m., and sets at 1:17 a.m. tomorrow.
The official length of daylight today is 12 hours, 14 minutes.
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The highest temperature on record for March 22 on P.E.I. is +24.5 set in 2012.
The lowest temperature on record for this date is –14.4 set in 1967.
For March 22 on P.E.I., the average high is +2.0.
Average low for this date is -5.9.
The hot spot in Canada this morning was Agassiz, B.C. where it was +9.8.
The coldest spot anywhere in Canada early this morning was again at Eureka, Nunavut where it was -40.0.
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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. Notice the lack of ice.
