Tropical storm watch issued for P.E.I. as 'big, big storm' Lee approaches

A tropical storm watch has been issued for all three counties on Prince Edward Island, which will start feeling the impact from Hurricane Lee overnight Friday.

"This watch covers a broad area including two-thirds of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, the Magdelan Islands, northern Nova Scotia and all of Cape Breton," Environment Canada posted at 5:21 p.m. AT on Friday.

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"Wind direction will be south to southeast for most of the watch area except New Brunswick where winds will be from the north to northeast."

The meteorological agency said the watches might be upgraded to tropical storm warnings Friday night "if we see signs of increasing winds."

The current track of Lee has it downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane or tropical storm by the time its eye makes landfall in southwestern Nova Scotia on Saturday afternoon. From there it will move across the Bay of Fundy and over western P.E.I., moving north of the Magdalene Islands by Sunday afternoon.

Northumberland Ferries announced Friday morning that the company is cancelling all crossings between Nova Scotia and P.E.I. for Saturday.

Travellers using the Confederation Bridge and the Charlottetown Airport are being advised to check in advance for disruptions before heading out. 

Because the storm is so big, Islanders will be feeling its impact all weekend.

"The mass of this storm is huge. It's a big, big storm," said CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin.

"Expect to see windy conditions throughout the entire weekend, starting overnight tonight, into the early morning hours tomorrow morning and then continuing right now through Sunday morning."

While Lee will be long-lasting, it will not wield anything close to the devastating power that Fiona did last September.

Winds overnight Friday will blow at 30 km/h with gusts up to 60. They will increase over the course of the day, starting out of the northeast and moving around the compass toward the south. The strongest winds will blow out of the southeast, at 50 km/h with gusts to 80. Overnight gusts could be as high as 90, particularly in West Prince close to the centre of the storm.

By contrast, Fiona had sustained winds of 100 km/h and gusts to 140.

Lee will bring a lot of rain as well, with 15 to 25 millimetres on Saturday and the same overnight into Sunday.

P.E.I.'s electrical utility ready to leap into action if Lee takes a toll

1 year ago

Duration 1:38

Maritime Electric's Kim Griffin tells CBC News: Compass that extra crews are ready to come to Prince Edward Island to help repair lines if needed.

How does Hurricane Lee compare to Fiona?

1 year ago

Duration 3:16

Bob Robichaud, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says Hurricane Lee is not expected to have the same intensity as Fiona at arrival — but he cautioned that it's a 'large storm' that people should prepare for, especially in western Nova Scotia and parts of southwestern New Brunswick.

'This will not be anything like Fiona or Dorian'

1 year ago

Duration 2:09

P.E.I. Public Safety Minister Bloyce Thompson urges Islanders to be prepared as Hurricane Lee makes its way toward P.E.I., but cautions residents not to panic