Snow, freezing rain and more in winter storm warning for P.E.I.
A winter storm warning from Environment Canada says Islanders should expect snow, blowing snow, freezing rain and high winds starting Saturday morning.
The warning includes a range of possible snowfall amounts — from 25 to 40 cms.
Maximum wind gusts are expected to top 100 km/h.
"Snow looks to mix with ice pellets and freezing rain Saturday evening, particularly for eastern areas, with rain possible Saturday night as the temperature nudges above the freezing mark for much of the Island," said CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland.
"Cooler westerly winds will develop early Sunday, which will see any standing water begin to freeze quickly as the temperature quickly falls."
Snow will become heavy at times Saturday, with the highest amounts expected over Prince County.
"My main concerns right now are for messy roads — due to heavy snow, freezing rain and drifting— whiteout conditions, blowing snow, icy surfaces and power outages," Scotland said.
Police across the Island hope Islanders will stay off the roads if conditions are bad.
Dozens of vehicles were stranded across P.E.I. in storms earlier in January, leaving emergency responders to try to find and help them.
"We are coming at it from a purely safety standpoint," Const. Tim Keizer with the Charlottetown police traffic unit said. "It becomes a real issue when motorists are out, when emergency vehicles and plows should be the only ones on the road."
He said people are generally good about staying home, but some still wander out during storms.
"At the end of the day, we will venture out because we are a service that protects life," Keizer said. "So it does place everybody in peril when the road conditions are like that and we have to venture out just because somebody has made that determination that they want to be out when the road conditions are such."
A separate weather statement from Environment Canada also cautions of the potential for storm surge and higher water levels Saturday afternoon. Strong ice pressure and ice rafting is also possible.
Scotland said light snow will begin early Saturday morning and become heavy in the afternoon.
