Keep off the roads, P.E.I. officials warn amid freezing rain warning
CBC News | Posted: January 24, 2017 11:15 AM | Last Updated: January 25, 2017
Salt and sand trucks on the road in slippery conditions
Officials were warning P.E.I. drivers to be cautious amid a storm expected to bring freezing rain, rain and wind.
Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for P.E.I. Tuesday, with the storm expected to continue into the overnight hours when the precipitation will change to rain as temperatures rise above freezing.
The weather caused a number of cancellations to sporting events, classes and other get-togethers. Check P.E.I. Storm Centre for the latest information.
CBC P.E.I. weatherman Boomer Gallant said there could be between half a centimetre and a centimetre of freezing rain accumulating in the west of the province, with some freezing rain also expected for rest of the Island.
Rainy and windy
Once the freezing rain stops, Gallant said the forecast is calling for up to 25 mm of rain and winds reaching 70 km/h.
Darren Chaisson, P.E.I.'s director of highway maintenance, told CBC News at 6 p.m. that all of the province's salt and sand trucks are out on the roads.
He said secondary roads, where crews use sand only, were starting to get slippery.
He added that road conditions for the rest of the night will depend on the temperature. If the freezing rain continues for several more hours than expected, it will be hard for crews to keep ahead of it.
He advised that motorists stay off the roads, not only for their own safety but to make it easier on the road crews.
Maritime Electric said Tuesday evening it was preparing for power outages.
The Confederation bridge issued a warning to drivers that there may be travel restrictions anytime between 8 p.m. Tuesday night and 6 p.m. Wednesday due to high winds.
Canadian Tire in Charlottetown said there was a rush on generators, batteries and salt as the storm approached.
- MORE P.E.I. NEWS | 'Comfort mitts' help people with dementia at the Mount
- MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Montague hospital continues visitor restrictions