Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada) – Drought conditions have improved across the prairies.

Significant December snow has reduced the severity of short term drought across the prairie provinces.   Still, 62 percent of prairie agricultural lands remain either abnormally dry or in drought.  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has updated it’s drought monitor to include conditions as of December 31:

While heavy snowfall and rain led to substantial improvements in Western Canada and parts of the North, vast areas of the country remain under abnormal dryness or drought classifications. Nearly three-quarters of Canada’s agricultural land continues to be affected by these conditions despite recent snow and rain.

In southern Alberta, above-normal December precipitation supported drought improvement. However, two drought pockets remained near Medicine Hat and south of Lethbridge along the US border.

Central Alberta experienced notable drought relief, including the elimination of Extreme Drought between Calgary and Edmonton. In northern Alberta, improvements were more pronounced. Exceptional snowfall in northwest Alberta led to the removal of Exceptional Drought and significant reductions in Severe and Extreme Drought. However, Extreme Drought (D3) conditions persisted in the Peace Region and southwest of Grande Prairie along the Alberta British Columbia border.

Saskatchewan received near-normal December precipitation, with most areas reporting more than 85% of average monthly totals.  This resulted in widespread reductions in drought classifications across the province.

Most of Manitoba recorded more than 85% of normal December precipitation, except for isolated areas in the southeast, southwest, and northern regions, where 40% to 85% of normal precipitation was observed. Temperatures across Manitoba averaged 3 to 4°C below normal for the month.

Most of southern Manitoba’s agricultural regions are now considered to be out of drought.  However, significant drought conditions remain in the Interlake and Northern Manitoba.

According to the Drought Monitor, 79 percent of the prairie region is either abnormally dry or in drought, including 62 percent of agricultural lands.

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