Weather synopsis – Prairie temperatures continue to be cooler than average. Though temperatures this week were approximately 2 °C warmer than last week (July 8-14, 2019), the seven-day average temperature was 0.5 °C cooler than normal (Fig. 1). The warmest temperatures were observed across MB while temperatures were cooler in western SK and across AB.
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| Figure 1. Average temperature (°C) across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (July 8-14, 2019). |
Across the prairies, 30-day (June 14 – July 14, 2019) average temperatures have been approximately 1 °C cooler than normal (Fig. 2). Average 30-day temperatures were 0 to 2 °C warmer than average across MB and 0 to 2 °C cooler than average in SK and AB. Growing season temperatures (April 1-July 14, 2019) have been 1 °C cooler than average; the warmest temperatures were observed across the southern prairies (Fig. 3).
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| Figure 2. Average temperature (°C) across the Canadian prairies the past 30 days (June 14-July 14, 2019). |
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| Figure 3. Average temperature (°C) across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-July 14, 2019). |
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| Figure 4. Mean temperature difference from Normal (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past 30 days (June 18-July 15, 2019). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (18Jul2019). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true |
This past week significant rainfall amounts were reported MB and southeastern SK while minimal rainfall was reported across southwestern SK and southern AB (Fig. 5).
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| Figure 5. Cumulative precipitation observed the past seven days across the Canadian prairies (July 8-14, 2019). |
Across the prairies, rainfall amounts for the past 30 days have been highly variable (Fig. 6). Dry conditions continue across much of southern AB. Rainfall was well above average in SK.
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| Figure 6. Cumulative precipitation observed the past seven days across the Canadian prairies (June 15-July 15, 2019). |
Growing season (April 1 – July 14, 2019) rainfall amounts have been below average across southern regions of AB, central SK, and central MB (Fig. 7).
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| Figure 6. Cumulative precipitation observed over the growing season (April 1-July 15, 2019) across the Canadian prairies. |
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| Figure 7. Percent of average precipitation observed across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-July 17, 2019). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (18Jul2019). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true |
Based on modeled soil moisture (Fig. 8), recent rains have improved soil moisture values across a large area of SK and MB. Predicted soil moisture continues to be low across large regions of southern and central areas of AB and western SK.
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| Figure 8. Modeled soil moisture (%) across the prairies (up to July 15, 2019). |
The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5 ºC, April 1-July 14, 2019) is below (Fig. 9):
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| Figure 9. Growing degree day (Base 5 ºC) across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-July 14, 2019). |
The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10 ºC, April 1-July 14, 2019) is below (Fig. 10):
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| Figure 10. Growing degree day (Base 10 ºC) across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-July 14, 2019). |
The lowest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from at least 14 down to at least 2 °C in the map below (Fig. 11).
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| Figure 11. Lowest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (to July 17, 2019).
Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (18Jul2019). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true
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The highest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from less than 16 up to at least 30 °C in the map below (Fig. 12).
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| Figure 12. Highest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (to July 17, 2019).
Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (18Jul2019). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true
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The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Growers can bookmark the AAFC Drought Watch Maps for the growing season.
