Snow squall warning continues into Sunday morning on P.E.I.
Waves on North Shore expected to reach 3 to 7 metres, Environment Canada says
Winter weather has officially arrived on P.E.I.
The Island got hit with its first significant snowfall of the season Saturday morning, affecting travel and causing potential damage to P.E.I.'s coastline.
Environment Canada says persistent snow squalls reaching 20 to 30 centimetres are expected to continue until early Sunday morning.
The national weather service has issued a special weather statement for the north-facing shorelines of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Northumberland Strait and Cabot Strait.
Large waves, pounding surf and elevated water levels are expected, with waves between three and seven metres.
"The highest waves will be at north-facing shorelines of the Magdalen Islands, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, where waves of five to seven metres and water levels of near a metre above normal are expected," Environment Canada said.
Shore or beach erosion and damage to coastal infrastructure is possible in vulnerable areas, it said.
Snow? Bring it on, say these kids sliding down a huge pile in a parking lot on Queen Street in Charlottetown. (Travis Kingdon/CBC)
Roads are slippery on P.E.I. and motorists are being urged to drive with caution.
Gordon MacDougall, a snowplow driver with the City of Charlottetown, said plows have been out since about 4 a.m.
"This was just a tricky one because we had a lot of freezing rain, hours and hours of freezing rain last night, and with all the traffic today compacted it all down so it's taken a long time for the salt to melt the ice."
RCMP say they had responded to eight accidents across the province caused by road conditions as of 3 p.m. None involved serious injuries.
All flights were cancelled at the Charlottetown airport Saturday.
Restrictions were still in place on the Confederation Bridge for buses and other high-sided vehicles as of 5:30 p.m..
Northumberland Ferries cancelled all sailings Saturday as well as Sunday's 8 a.m. crossing from Wood Islands, P.E.I., and 9:30 a.m. crossing from Caribou, N.S.
Poor weather conditions have altered some events this weekend, with the Santa Claus Parade in Charlottetown moving to Sunday, and the downtown Christmas market in Charlottetown moving indoors.
Santa's visit to the Charlottetown Mall Saturday night also had to be postponed. He'll be taking kids' wishes Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
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With files from Travis Kingdon