Tornado-like funnel reported near Souris as Prince Edward Island endures chaotic storm
A severe mid-afternoon storm on Prince Edward Island produced high winds, hail, heavy rain and a likely tornado near Souris, knocking out power for thousands.
Wednesday afternoon brought a volatile storm to Prince Edward Island, combining strong winds, hail, thunder, lightning and torrential rain that battered the province. The system moved through Charlottetown around 1:40 p.m., causing power outages for thousands of Maritime Electric customers, primarily in the capital. Meteorologist Ryan Snodden labeled the day "wild" and noted radar-derived rainfall rates approaching 50 mm per hour, with a high likelihood that a tornado touched down near the eastern town of Souris.
Video footage showed a funnel lifting trees and traveling over water, while locals like Brielle Campbell and Blair Chapman recounted spinning clouds and trees being flung like toothpicks. Charlottetown police issued flood warnings, leading to street closures in the Sherwood and Parkdale districts and the temporary shutdown of several businesses and the UPEI sports centre. The forecaster warned that severe thunderstorms could persist into the early evening across the island's eastern half.
Why it matters
The storm caused power loss, property damage and flooding, affecting daily life for residents of Prince Edward Island.
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