Spring storm incoming
Islanders can expect whiteout conditions in blizzard tonight
Although it’s spring on the calendar, Islanders will continue to feel some wintery wrath this week. Environment Canada has issued a blizzard warning for all of P.E.I. for this evening, with forecasts expecting an estimated 15 cm of snowfall to mix with high winds and create whiteout conditions.
Flurries will persist throughout the day today in the lead-up to the storm, while whiteout conditions are expected to begin later in the evening. “When the increasing winds kick in, it’s going to deteriorate pretty fast,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Jeremy March.
A low-pressure system was expected to develop over southern Quebec Tuesday evening before moving eastward overnight and today.
Flurries should begin on P.E.I. this morning and could change to showers in the afternoon as temperatures hit 2 to 3 C in advance of the low.
The low will deepen Wednesday evening as it moves east
of the Island, with snow and strong northerly winds gusting to 90 km/h developing in the wake of the low.
March said zero visibility conditions will be caused by the blowing snow and will likely start in North Cape and Tignish around 8 or 9 p.m.
“(Whiteout conditions) will
begin closer to midnight in Charlottetown and just after midnight out towards Kings County,” said March. Those high winds are also expected to persist into Thursday morning, which could cause further complications for the travelling public.
The Confederation Bridge has already issued a travel advisory saying wind conditions may result in traffic restrictions starting at 11 p.m. Wednesday until about 8 a.m. Thursday. Environment Canada has also advised individuals to use caution if travelling.
“If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone,” the weather agency said in its warning. “Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a firstaid kit and a flashlight.” March said western areas of the province should be clear by Thursday afternoon, while Kings County could continue to see some blustery conditions until the evening.
He said the forecast after Thursday shows fair weather, for the most part, although temperatures will remain several degrees below normal for the time of year.
“I certainly don’t see spring in the long-range forecast. I know its spring on the calendar,” said March.