Power outages reported as lightning storm sweeps across P.E.I.

Environment Canada warning of strong gusts, heavy rain, possible hail

CBC News · Posted: Aug 25, 2020 3:32 PM AT | Last Updated: August 25

Torrential rain nearly blocked some Charlottetown streets Tuesday afternoon. 

Maritime Electric's site was reporting nearly 270 customers without power as of 8 p.m. Tuesday, as lightning storms continued to creep across Prince Edward Island.

The thunderstorms began just after midday, when Environment Canada's website reported that Prince and Queens counties were under a severe thunderstorm watch, while Kings County was under a severe thunderstorm warning only.

Kings County was added to the severe thunderstorm watch notice at 4 p.m., at which time 1,326 customers were without electricity.

That number dropped to just more than 1,100 by 5:30 and then 348 by 6:30. The number of customers without power fell throughout the evening. By 8 p.m. there were 266 without power.

"Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to nickel size hail and heavy rain," the agency warned.

Maritime Electric's Kim Griffin said in an email to CBC News that lightning might have knocked trees down onto power lines or hit equipment.