Earl brings strong winds to P.E.I.

Tropical storm Earl, downgraded from hurricane status,hit central and easternPrince Edward Islandwith windsof about80 km/h on Saturday.

A tropical storm warning and a wind warning remained in place for Queens and Kings counties as Earl blew through, but both kinds of warnings werelifted in Prince County.

At5 p.m. AT, the storm had reached les-de-la-Madeleine but was still affecting P.E.I. with strong winds. Environment Canada said much of the Island received 25 to 30 millimetres of rain by that time.

About2,400customerswere without electricity as of late afternoon,about half of those in the Charlottetown area,with the others in the Argyle Shore area and Montague.About10,000 who lost power earlierhavehad service restored.

The ferry crossing between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.,was shut down for the day.

The Confederation Bridge is open for all vehicles. At the storm's worst peak, gusts measured at 116 km/h, just four km/h slower than hurricane strength.High-sided vehicles and motorcycles were banned on the bridge for part of the day.

Swimming was prohibited at national park beaches. Members of the Charlottetown Yacht Clubhad taken their boats out of the water Friday.

There were reports ofat least one large tree down in Charlottetown, where winds gusted to78 km/h at midafternoon.