P.E.I. winter storm forecast cancels Wednesday flights

Heavy snow and strong windsin the forecast for Wednesday morning have prompted Air Canada to cancel some flights out of Charlottetown.

• Winter storm coming after sunny Tuesday

Travel aroundPrince Edward Island is likely to be difficult Wednesday, according to CBC meteorologist PeterCoade.

"It's not going to be a very nice day tomorrow anywhere in the Maritime provinces," said Coade.

"You're going to have aviation affected, the Confederation Bridge due to the wind It is quite a storm."

At 2 p.m. Tuesday Air Canada had already cancelled some Charlottetown flights. The airline is waiving rebooking fees.

Confederation Bridge is warning high winds could lead to traffic restrictions starting around daybreak Wednesday, and that could last through the day and night.

Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for the entire province, calling for up to 20 centimetres of snow.

"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve," the agency's warning reads. "Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions."

The agency warns winds could gust up to 90 km/h which, combined with blowing snow, will results in "near zero visibilities in whiteout conditions."

Coade said the snow will start before dawn.

"We could see five centimetres on the ground by the time the sun comes up," he said.

"The snow is going to be heavy at times and the wind is going to be strong enough to blow it around, so near blizzard-like conditions."

The wind is expected to be at its strongest in the morning, but gusts near 70 km/h are expected in the afternoon.

The snow is forecast to become mixed with or change to rain by the afternoon, with flurries tapering off by the end of the day Wednesday.

Storm surge warning in effect

Environment Canada has also issued a storm surge warning for Prince County, warning large waves are expected to hit the coast as a low pressure system tracks across the Bay of Fundy and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

"This system will develop a storm surge which will combine with the high tide late Wednesday afternoon and evening to give elevated water levels. Additionally rough and pounding surf is expected as a result of the strong winds associated with the system," the warning reads.

"High waves combined with the surge may cause damage along the coast. Coastal flooding is possible along the shoreline."