PEI Shut Down By Late Season Blizzard

Whiteouts shut down P.E.I.

Visibility very poor in west

CBC News

Posted: Mar 27, 2012 6:45 AM AT

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2012 1:30 PM AT

Schools were the first to announce they were closing, and as snow blew over P.E.I., government offices and businesses were quick to follow.

Only about five centimetres of snow had fallen on the Island by daybreak, but the snow was light and winds gusting over 60 km/h were creating whiteout conditions. Reports from the west end of the province seemed to be worst, with snowplow operators describing whiteouts on 80 per cent of roads.

All three school boards had announced by 6:30 a.m. they were shutting down. UPEI and Holland College had followed by 9 a.m. government offices — federal, provincial and municipal — and libraries are also closed. Many banks have closed their doors for the day, as has the Confederation Court Mall in Charlottetown.
Confederation Bridge closed to high-sided vehicles — such as buses and transport trucks — at 3:40 a.m.

Anyone venturing outside should call ahead to see if their destination is open.
The forecast does not call for a lot of snow, perhaps another five centimetres, but high winds are expected to continue, gusting up to 80 km/h in the afternoon and still blowing hard through the night.