Weekly Update (Jul 20, 2017; Wk 12) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – Seven-day rainfall accumulations were generally greater than the previous week. Some areas in southern prairies received 10 to 30 mm of rain (Fig. 1). Total 30-day rainfall for June 17 to July 16, 2017, indicates that conditions are somewhat dryer than normal for most of the prairies. Figure 2 indicates that the regions with <40% of average rainfall (30-day) now include much of southern Saskatchewan, as well as large spots of southern Alberta and Manitoba. The percent of average precipitation for this growing season continues to be average for most of Alberta and below average for much of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Fig. 3).

Figure 1.  Accumulated precipitation across the Canadian prairies the past  seven days (July 10-16, 2017).

Figure 2.  Accumulated precipitation across the Canadian prairies the past  30 days (June 17-July 16, 2017).

Figure 3.  Percent of average precipitation across the Canadian prairies from June 17-July 16, 2017.

Over the past week, the warmest temperatures occurred over a large area from Brandon to Edmonton and south to the Canada-USA border. Although temperatures were warmer (1°C) than last week, both the 7- and 30-day average temperatures were similar to long-term normal (LTN). Compared to 30-day average temperatures, Alberta was above normal whereas Saskatchewan and Manitoba were slightly below normal. 

The lowest temperatures across the prairies over the past seven days (July 13-19, 2017) are mapped below.  

In contrast, the highest temperatures recorded over the past seven days (July 13-19, 2017) are presented below.  

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – July 13, 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.