P.E.I. storm: Clearing roads remains a challenge in eastern P.E.I.

Plow operators in eastern P.E.I. still face significant challenges keeping the roads clear.

All plows out in Prince, Queens counties, challenges remain in Kings County

Kevin Yarr, Jesara Sinclair · CBC News · Posted: Dec 16, 2016 5:23 AM EST | Last Updated: December 16, 2016

Charlottetown Harbour was threatening to overflow at the yacht club late Friday morning. (Terry Smith/Twitter)

Plow operators in eastern P.E.I. still face significant challenges keeping the roads clear.

Snow drifts are moving in as quickly as they're being cleared, according to Transportation and Public Works.

There are still no plows our in the St. Peters and Morell areas.

People are being asked to stay off the roads, if possible.

All plows are out in Prince and Queens counties.

See a full list of cancellations on Storm Centre
Call your cancellations into 1-877-236-9350

Queens RCMP getting calls of cars stuck everywhere. It's a challenge for us to get around too-we R responding to emergency calls! Sgt.Butler
—@RCMPPEITraffic

Storm surge warning

Environment Canada issued a storm surge warning earlier today, which has since ended.

On the North Shore that threat was increased by high surf.

High tide came to Charlottetown at 1:03 p.m. and passed, the surge warning ended. Even so, by the late morning Charlottetown Harbour was already threatening to spill onto land at Charlottetown Yacht Club.

Schools shut down

Public schools are closed on P.E.I., with plows completely pulled off the roads Thursday morning.

If you see this caution tape on an abandoned vehicle, it's been checked. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EMS?src=hash">#EMS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PEI?src=hash">#PEI</a> is cutting down on repeat calls over car accidents #911 <a href="https://t.co/7mJCPLOyXu">pic.twitter.com/7mJCPLOyXu</a>
—@IslandEMS

CBC meteorologist Brennan Allen said there could be as much as 25 centimetres of snow in areas where the snowsqualls hit hardest.

"Considering the temperatures, it's very cold, this is dry snow, so extreme amounts of blowing and drifting snow," said Allen.

"I would recommend not driving."

Power outages across Island

As of 5 p.m., Maritime Electric said 600 customers were without power, with the largest outages in Belle River and Morell. By 7 p.m., the utility said the number of customers without power was down to 26, adding that it is trying to have everyone's power restored by midnight. But a further update on Saturday morning explained that six customers were still without power.

Even in Charlottetown visibility was very poor. (Laura Meader/CBC)

A spokesperson with Maritime Electric said in some cases, roads are challenging to access, but crews are working through the storm the best they can to reach customers and restore power.

Wind chills at dangerous levels

Allen estimates the winds are gusting as hard as 100 km/h on parts of the North Shore.

A strong arctic system is still venting its wrath on P.E.I. (Kevin Yarr/CBC)

The temperature is -15 C in most of the province and the wind chill is in the -30 C range.

Allen describes those conditions as dangerous. People who do go outside should not have any exposed skin.

Bridge limited, ferries cancelled

The Confederation Bridge has restricted traffic. Tractor trailers, buses and motorcycles have not been able to cross the bridge since 11 p.m.

Three early morning flights are cancelled at the Charlottetown airport this morning. So far the flights scheduled to leave at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. are showing on time.

All Northumberland Ferry crossings are cancelled for the day.