There are occasional exceptions, however. Although local storms are rarely severe, the Island is vulnerable to the destructive forces of much more powerful Atlantic storms. About once every summer and early fall, dissipating hurricanes tracking along the Atlantic coast expend their energy and remaining rainfalls over the Island. One of the most drenching and damaging storms of this kind occurred on September 22, 1942. Charlottetown recorded 163.8 mm of rain, the greatest daily total ever recorded for any P.E.I. station.
Winter storms pose a serious challenge.
Packing a variety of weather conditions from hurricane force winds to heavy precipitation in all forms, they can pass rapidly through the region or stall and batter the province for days. When such storms occur at high tide, storm surges become a problem. When the centres of the storms remain to the south of the Island, precipitation reaches the Gulf and the Island in the form of snow. If the low centre passes to the north of the Island, the snow will change to freezing rain and rain. Freezing rain and snowfall may combine to paralyse the Island for days, at great cost to communications and transportation.