Weekly Update (Jun 22, 2017; Wk 08) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – This past week our average temperatures were cooler than last week, and 2 - 3°C cooler than long term averages for mid-June (Fig. 1).  The second map presents the 30-day average temperature (Fig. 2).  

Figure 1. Average temperature across the Canadian prairies from June 4-11, 2017.

Figure 2. Average temperature across the Canadian prairies from May 19-June 19, 2017.

Temperature - The seven-day accumulated precipitation was greater than 15 mm with southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba reporting amounts in excess of 40 mm (Fig. 3).  

Figure 3. Accumulated precipitation across the Canadian prairies from June 11-18, 2017.

Compared to last week, the 30-day rainfall amounts are similar to long term average values for southern Manitoba, southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Alberta (Fig. 4). A large region in south and central Saskatchewan is reporting well below normal precipitation.

Figure 4. Percent of average precipitation from May 20-June 18, 2017.

The following is the accumulated precipitation for the growing season up to June 18, 2017.

The updated growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5ºC, March 1 – June 18, 2017) is below:

While the growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – June 18, 2017) is below:

The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Growers may wish to bookmark the AAFC Drought Watch Maps for the growing season.