‘Significant snow’ is possible
Environment Canada expects blowing snow to start Tuesday and into Wednesday
Islanders can expect at least one more snowstorm to hit P.E.I. before winter is officially over. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement calling for a “major winter storm” to bring snowfall and strong northeasterly winds to P.E.I. late Tuesday. Blowing snow is expected to persist overnight into Wednesday, with Environment Canada stating it expects to issue warnings as the storm gets closer.
“Our wind warning criteria is 90 km/h and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw winds of that strength,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Jeffery Hilliard. “Visibility could be an issue, especially if you get strong winds and snow.”
Hilliard said predicting the snowfall amount is difficult because slight shifts in the system’s track could significantly change precipitation. Some long-range models are also showing a possible changeover from snow to rain for a period overnight on Wednesday.
Hilliard said it is unclear whether that changeover will affect just eastern areas of the province, the entire province or if it will even happen.
“I’d hate to hang my hat so early on a (snowfall amount) number right now, further west in New Brunswick, we’re seeing pretty consistent amounts in the 20 to 40 cm range… for P.E.I., I wouldn’t expect that much but I can’t say a number for sure because of the potential changeover to rain,” he said.
Tuesday’s storm is set to hit P.E.I. less than a week after two previous systems brought some precipitation to the province. Snowfall on Thursday and Friday amounted to about 10 to 20 cm across the province.
Hilliard said there was about 19 cm of snow received in Wellington, 16 cm in Summerside and about 12 in Charlottetown.
Hilliard said a lack of major snowfall in P.E.I. this winter appeared to be part of an overall trend in the region.
“We had a bit of a blockage and lot of these systems we’d typically get in the winter system just passed us by. Now, we’re starting to get back in the normal flow,” said Hilliard, who added that conditions were expected to clear up again late Wednesday.
Hilliard said there are currently no other large weather systems predicted to affect P.E.I. after Wednesday. Islanders are advised to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. Those wishing to report severe weather can send an email to ec.weatheraspc.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using the hashtag #PEStorm.