Freezing rain transitioning to showers Tuesday evening

Prince Edward Island is feeling the impact ofa winter storm that has brought an extended period of freezing rain.

Both Queens and Kings counties were under freezing rain warnings from Environment Canada all day Tuesday,while a winter storm warning for Prince County was changed to a freezing rain warning later in the afternoon.

CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland said the freezing rain is expected to transition to showers for eastern and central parts of the Island later Tuesday evening as temperatures inch about freezing, while Prince County will receive an "icy mix."

Light flurries are forecast for Wednesday morning before partial clearing in the afternoon.Easterly winds also increased Tuesdayafternoon, with gusts possibly topping 50 km/h in the evening.

"Blowing snow and ice patches remain a concern," Scotland said.

Roads were snow-covered and slick in places Tuesday, and a crash involving a power pole closedthe Trans-Canada Highway in Stratford for three hours.

The RCMP said a car headedeastboundwent off the road at about 11:30 a.m. and hit a power pole.The male driver was not injured.

"There was extensive damage to the car. He actually did take out the power pole,"saidSgt. Craig Eveleigh.

Maritime Electric crews responded to the accident and had to cut the power pole in two to remove it from the road.

About 1,000 customers were without power for about two hours, as Maritime Electric reported outages in the Sherwood area of Charlottetown just before noon on Tuesday. Power was restored by 2 p.m.

Early Tuesday, classes were cancelled in P.E.I.'s English and French public school system, as well as at Grace Christian and Immanuel Christian schools in Charlottetown.

Holland College also cancelled all face-to-face classes.Collge de I'lesaid virtual classes wouldgo ahead as scheduled.

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