Cool, wet weather is moving in as we close out spring and welcome summer — but rain is a good thing, as drought conditions continue into June for parts of Alberta.
The most recent Canadian Drought Monitor map shows abnormally dry to extremely drought conditions extending across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The impact is widespread with 40 per cent of the prairie population dealing with moderate to exceptional drought conditions.
Much of the Prairies have only had about 60 per cent of the normal amount of moisture over the past six months, and this isn’t a new issue; parts of Alberta have been running a moisture deficit for years.
According to the Canadian Drought Monitor, Calgary and Lethbridge are abnormally dry, and Edmonton is currently in a moderate drought state.
Dry conditions are a major concern for gardeners, producers and farmers. Pastures are not recovering quick enough and that’s forcing producers to dip into supplemental feed. Poor soil moisture could mean another year of low-quality crops for farmers.
Northern Alberta has been battling intense and out-of-control wildfires this spring, and a large portion of the north is in a severe or extreme drought state.
According to Environment Canada, 2019 has been the driest spring on record in several parts of Alberta.
June, July and August are forecast to be drier than normal in northern Alberta. However, conditions in the southeast are looking to improve with above average precipitation expected.
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