Storms brewing

Incoming systems hold potential for prolonged periods of freezing rain

One whack from Bob Irving’s mallet and the grate dislodged enough for Paul Lamay to hook into it with his pick and lift it up. Irving and Lamay were two of a number of City of Summerside employees busy Wednesday prepping for an expected bout of nasty weather on Friday and Saturday. They were de-icing and clearing out storm drains to ensure the forecast deluge of water will have someplace to go.

“Also, the city is preparing line crews and equipment should they be needed for outages as well as power plant readiness should our local power generation be needed,” added Greg Gaudet, Summerside’s director of municipal services. A statement from the province Wednesday indicated that its Department of Transportation was also preparing equipment for the possibility of freezing rain and snow this weekend. Environment Canada is forecasting two separate weather systems to impact P.E.I. on Friday and Saturday, said Linda Libby, a Charlottetown-based meteorologist with the service.

Forecasters had, earlier in the week, predicted significant rainfall amounts for Friday, but Libby said that system is now expected to track further north than expected. This should mean less rain than originally expected for most of P.E.I.

As of Wednesday morning, it was still too early to predict exactly how much rain Prince County can expect Friday, said Libby. She did say the area can expect temperatures upwards of 11 C.

A second system expected to hit Saturday is more of a concern for Prince County. Depending on how much cold air is present in the system overnight Friday, Saturday’s weather could range from significant amounts of just rain, intermittent rain and freezing rain and a prolonged period of freezing rain.

“Right now, it’s not settled,” said Libby.

Still, Islanders who have to travel overnight Friday or into Saturday, should think about making alternative arrangements, she added.

As of Wednesday, a special weather statement had been issued only for Queens County.

.*--*$&/5 .$,": +063/"- 1*0/&&3 The roads gathered snow quickly in downtown Summerside on Thursday, Jan. 4, but some drivers braved the region’s first winter storm of 2018, which brought 15 to 25 centimetres to the province. P.E.I. is preparing for its next winter blast this weekend.