P.E.I. remains under extreme cold warning

Prince Edward Island remains under an extreme cold warning with windchill values of –35 to –41 C expected overnight Friday.

The extreme cold is expected to persist into Saturday morning before easing up Saturday afternoon.

Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.

• If you need to find a place to get warm, call the shelter line at 1-833-220-4722

"Watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes," the Environment Canada warning reads. "Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill."

The last time Charlottetown Airport recorded wind chills below –40 C was Jan. 16, 2004. On Jan. 18, 1982, the overnight low fell to –30.5 C, with a wind chill in the range of –50 C.

Kings County is also facing a wind warning and a snow squall watch.

Up to 15 centimetres of snow is expected Friday night into Saturday, with wind gusts up to 90 kilometres per hour. 

"Flurries will become more [Friday night], with areas of snow squall activity developing as cold westerly to northwesterly winds strengthen. Very strong northwest winds will give occasional whiteout conditions over exposed areas," the snow squall watch reads.

"Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero."

On Saturday, winds could gust as high as 90 kilometres per hour from the afternoon into late evening. 

Organizations across the province are setting up warming centres for Islanders who run into trouble during the cold snap. You can find details of where those centres are here.

Strong winds will also have an impact on travel over the Confederation Bridge this weekend.

The Confederation Bridge is warning restrictions on high-sided vehicles could continue until 5 a.m. Sunday, which could affect supplies in some stores on the Island.