Power restored to most as extreme weather warning ends

An extreme cold warning has ended for P.E.I., but not before records were broken, thousands were without power and others needed a boost to get their cars started.

According to Environment Canada, Summerside and East Point saw their coldest temperatures on record.

In Summerside, temperatures dipped to -26.7 C, surpassing the old record of -24.4 C set in 1931.

East Point reached -26.1 C, edging the old record of -25.0 C set in 1971.  Records in the East Point area have only been been kept since 1967.

Wind chills dipped into the minus-40s across the province. 

The forecast calls for warmer temperatures on Sunday in the -4 C range.

As of 11:15 a.m. Saturday, there were more than 3,000 Maritime Electric customers without power. By 4:30 p.m., that number dropped to just over 300.

Environment Canada issues extreme cold warnings when temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.

Warming shelters were set up in many communities.

Kali Ross of Charlottetown Mutual Aid said about six people spent the night at its warming shelter, and about a dozen others came in to have a snack, use the internet and just be in the company of others.

"We had lots of other people stop by with donations, just to check it out and stop by, so it went well.... It's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared — I think we learned that with Fiona."

The centre will stay open until at least 6 p.m., and later if needed, Ross said.

The Community Outreach Centre in Charlottetown was busier than normal on Saturday, including some new clients, said manager Alan Hicken.

"Normally they don't stay around but in the cold day like this there's probably 40 or 50 at any given time."

The toll-free after-hours social housing phone-line, 1-888-557-6049, is experiencing higher than normal call volumes, according to a government news release issued Saturday afternoon. A secondary phone line, 1-877-368-5770, has been added.

According to Environment Minister Steven Myers, the peak electrical load on P.E.I. was the highest it has ever been. The electrical load peaked at more than 380 megawatts, smashing the old record of 321 set a year ago.

Maritime Electric spokesperson Kim Griffin said the grid is holding up, and crews expect everyone to have power by early evening.

The wind has also caused disruptions. The Confederation Bridge has been closed for most of the day to high-sided vehicles, including buses and tractor trailers.