Northumberland Strait Winds: Ferry cancellations, restricted bridge traffic
The ferries between Nova Scotia and P.E.I. are still not running and traffic on Confederation Bridge remains restricted as a gale blows through the Northumberland Strait.
At 6 a.m. Confederation Bridge was recording wind speeds of 96 km/h with gusts of 125 km/h. Traffic restrictions have been in place, meaning no high-side vehicles such as transport trucks, since 9:35 a.m. Thursday. All Northumberland Ferries sailings were cancelled Thursday, and Friday mornings sailings have also been cancelled.
The Confederation Bridge forecast does not show winds easing until late afternoon.
In addition to transportation disruptions Thursday, the wind blew down a building under construction in Charlottetown.
"Those winds are very strong following that low pressure that brought us all the rain the other night," said CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin.
"Those northerly winds are really making things feel a lot colder than what the thermometer is reading. You're going to have to bundle up for today."
The wind has been howling through the Northumberland Strait since Thursday morning. (Brian Higgins/CBC)
Simpkin is forecasting a high of around 10 C Friday.
A gale warning is in effect on the strait, but there is no wind warning for the Island. The wind is forecast to blow at 40 km/h with gusts to 60 for most of the day, dropping to 30 with gusts to 50 in the late afternoon before finally easing in the early morning hours.
This article, written by Kevin Yarr, was originally published for CBC News. Contains files files from Island Morning.
