Prairie Weather (Rural Roots Canada)  – Across the prairies, the drought is not looking so dire, except for one rather important area

The latest Canadian Drought Monitor shows widespread improvement in drought conditions across the prairies, due to significant spring snowfall.   However, there is one area that remains concerning – southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan south of the Trans Canada Highway.   That region received less than 60 percent of its long term average snowfall in March.  The drought situation there has worsened, even as conditions improved almost everywhere else.

While the area between Calgary and Edmonton is still considered abnormally dry, it’s an improvement from earlier in the season, when the area was under severe drought.

Notably, the BC Peace region is no longer considered to be in drought, though abnormally dry conditions continue to exist south of Fort St. John, due to multiple snowstorms providing above average precipitation.  In some areas, precipitation totals in the Peace region were close to 200% above average.

Similarly high precipitation in southern Manitoba lifted the region out of drought, though it remains abnormally dry in the northern half of the province.

Overall, only 21 percent of the agricultural landscape of the prairie provinces is now considered to be abnormally dry or in drought.

Read the full report here:    Canadian Drought Monitor

While the moisture is well-timed,  just as producers begin seeding, it is also creating some issues relating to saturated land and mushy soil.   A shift toward sunshine would now be welcome,, to allow the fields to dry, and make them more conducive to the work that lies ahead.    Check out the weather update linked below to see if the sun will come out on your farm any time soon.

UPDATED WEATHER OUTLOOK  APRIL 16:   Prairie Weather This Week – Midweek  Update