P.E.I. storm: RCMP advise motorists to stay off the roads

RCMP advise motorists to stay off the roads,as winds have increased throughout the Island and visibility is poor. Police ask that anyone who does not have to travel stay put.

At 8:45 p.m. Thursday, The Confederation Bridge restricted certain classes of vehicles from crossing due to high winds. Restricted classes include automobilestowing trailers, motorcycles, high-sided vehicles including trucks, tractor trailers, recreational vehicles, and buses.

For more information visit the websiteof The Confederation Bridge.

At 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Northumberland Ferries cancelled all crossings for the remainder of Thursday and for all of Friday.

• See a full list of cancellations on Storm Centre
• Call your cancellations into1-877-236-9350

P.E.I. is experiencing the full winter weather package Thursday and Friday as an arctic weather front moves into the Maritimes.

Environment Canada has issued snowsquall and wind warnings for P.E.I., and special weather statements regarding the cold.

• What's a snowsquall?: Boomer's guide to weather lingo

"This low pressure system will be responsible for very strong northwest winds over P.E.I.," said CBC meteorologist Brennan Allen.

"Temperatures Friday will struggle to reach minus single digits in all areas, with dangerous wind chills. The strong northwest flowbehind the low will be responsible for extensive snowsqualls."

Poor travelling conditions

Allen does not recommend travelling.

Environment Canada says visibility will be near zero in snowsqualls, and warns conditions will change rapidly, from clear skies to heavy snow over the space of just a few kilometres.

The snow is forecast to start in the late morning and continue through the evening.

The winds will blow at 30 km/h with gusts to 50 most of the day, but the strongest winds will come overnight, at 60 km/h gusting to 90.

By Friday morning, with the temperature down around -15 C, the wind chill is forecast to be -30 C.

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