Calgary and Lethbridge dry, Edmonton wet; a look at precipitation across Alberta

This weekend’s rain in Calgary amounted to almost a quarter of the 2016 precipitation total to-date for the city.

This year has been incredibly dry in southern Alberta. According to Environment Canada, Calgary usually sees 212.6 millimetres of water equivalent moisture in the first six months of the year. So far for 2016, there has only been 137.2 mm.

Lethbridge will typically receive 208.2 mm of precipitation from January to June. Measurements from the Lethbridge International Airport show the city is down almost 90 mm for the year so far.

The majority of moisture in Alberta arrives between May and September, with June being the wettest month. So far, the province has not even seen half of the June moisture it normally would in cities like Calgary and Lethbridge. From Friday to Sunday there was 32.4 mm of rain in Calgary, or 70 per cent of June’s rainfall for 2016. As of June 26, 2016, Calgary’s precipitation total is 48 mm below average for that month.

Lethbridge has been even drier this June. As of June 26, 2016,  there has only been 10.8 mm of rain at the Lethbridge International Airport. That is 87 per cent below average for the month.

Meanwhile, Edmonton has been above average with regards to rain and snowfall totals. The city started the year below average for precipitation totals. From January to April the Edmonton International Airport was 47 per cent below average, showing a precipitation deficit every month. However, thanks to a few significant weather events, as of June 26, 2016, the city now sits at 112 per cent of its cumulative precipitation total.

As the weather patterns continue to shift from El Nino to La Nina, it is widely expected the prairies will see increased moisture as we move into the summer and fall.

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