A winter storm sweeping across P.E.I. forced the closure of the Confederation Bridge to all traffic around noon Wednesday as wind conditions worsened across the province.
The storm is bringing lots of wind to the Island, with bridge officials recording gusts as high as 125 km/h over the Northumberland Strait early in the afternoon.
RCMP are urging drivers to be cautious while on the roads with whiteout conditions in many areas.
Provincial government offices in Prince County were closed by 11:30 a.m.
Schools across the province are closed Wednesday. Snow began falling around mid-morning and is expected change to rain by the afternoon.
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for all three of the Island's counties as the storm presses through Quebec and the Maritimes. Schools in New Brunswick and dozens more in Nova Scotia are closed for the day.
CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin said this morning the storm would come on fast, as "things are going to turn very very slippery very very quickly.
"It is going to start off as snow, and by the time it's all said and done some areas could see between 5-15 centimetres of snow," Simpkin told Island Morning host Mitch Cormier.
"But the transition between the snow and the rain is going to occur a little bit later on this afternoon around 2 or 3 o'clock. That's when the potential of freezing rain and ice pellets is going to occur and that's when the highest winds are expected."
Closures, delays and restrictions
Along with the Island's public schools, Holland College and UPEI have closed their campuses for the day. The Atlantic Veterinary College will remain open for emergencies, but all regular appointments will be rescheduled.
A flight from Charlottetown to Montreal set for 11:10 a.m. was cancelled, as well as the 6:35 p.m. flight to Toronto Wednesday evening. A flight scheduled to arrive from Montreal at 10:27 a.m. was cancelled, as is a 5:37 p.m. arrival from Toronto.
Primary care appointments are cancelled at the Alberton Community Health Centre, Tyne Valley Health Centre, Tignish Co-Op Medical Centre and O'Leary Health Centre, according to Health P.E.I.
SHORS afternoon appointments at both Prince County Hospital in Summerside and The Mount in Charlotte have been cancelled for today and rescheduled to a future date.
Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation sessions at the Credit Union Place in Summerside are also cancelled for today.
