Significant snowfall, strong winds could make for hazardous weekend in P.E.I.

Environment Canada's special weather statement for this weekend now includes all three counties on Prince Edward Island. 

The weather agency issued the statement for Kings and Queens counties Wednesday, but added Prince County to the mix Thursday morning. 

"Significant snowfall and strong winds [are] likely Friday night into Saturday," the special weather statement reads. 

An update late Thursday afternoon estimated 15 to 25 centimetres of total snowfall could fall across the province, with maximum northeasterly wind gusts of 70 km/h. 

"I can't rule out local amounts of 30 cm for a few spots in central and eastern P.E.I.," said CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland.  

"With the temperature likely near freezing, this may be a wetter snow but a gusty north-northwest wind is possible on Saturday so blowing snow is also a concern in addition to snow-covered roads." 

"With the temperature really dropping off after this storm moves through, it's looking like the Island will at least see a white Christmas."

Scotland said the steady snow should ease for most areas starting Saturday night, "but a cold and brisk west-northwesterly wind may result in sea-effect snow bands downwind of the water, which may result in additional accumulation and poor visibility."

Snowfall amounts will depend on the track of the storm and are subject to change, said Scotland. 

Similar storms in the past have caused hazardous driving conditions and cancellations of scheduled activities, Environment Canada said.