Weather synopsis

Weather synopsis – This week (June 8-14, 2020), temperatures were generally warmer than average and seven day rainfall totals were above average.  Average 7-day temperatures were warmest across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta.  Temperatures were cooler across the Parkland and Peace River regions.  The weekly average temperature at Brandon (16.8 °C) was more than 3 °C warmer than at Grande Prairie.  

Table 1. 7-day temperature and rainfall summary (June 8-14, 2020)

Figure 1. Observed average temperatures across the Canadian prairies for the past seven days (June 8-14, 2020).

Average 30-day (May 16 - June 14, 2020) temperatures continue to be cooler in Alberta than in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  Temperature anomalies indicated that northwestern Saskatchewan and a region extending from Calgary to Grande Prairie has been 0 to 2 °C cooler than normal. Most of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been 0 to 2 °C warmer than normal (May 19 - Jun 15, 2020).  

Table 2. 30-day temperature and rainfall summary (May 16 -June 14, 2020)

Figure 2. Observed average temperatures across the Canadian prairies for the past seven days (May 16-June 14, 2020).

Figure 3. Mean temperature difference from Normal across the Canadian prairies the past 30 days (May 19-June 15, 2020). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (15Jun2020). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209  

This past week, rainfall amounts were greatest in Alberta and southern/east-central Saskatchewan. Rainfall in Manitoba was minimal.  Seven-day total rainfall for Grande Prairie was 35.4 mm compared to 1.7 mm at Brandon.  Eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba have had the lowest 30-day cumulative rainfall amounts; precipitation has been greatest in Alberta.  At Saskatoon and Lacombe, rainfall has been greater than 200% of long term (30-day) normal values.  Conditions continue to be dryer than normal across most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  Rainfall amounts have been well above normal across most of Alberta as well as northwestern Saskatchewan. 

Figure 4. Observed cumulative precipitation across the Canadian prairies for the past seven days (June 8-14, 2020).

Figure 5. Observed cumulative precipitation across the Canadian prairies for the past 30 days (May 16-June 14, 2020).

Figure 6. Percent of average precipitation the past 30 days (May 16-June 14, 2020). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (15Jun2020). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5 ºC, April 1-June 15, 2020) is below (Fig. 7):

Figure 7. Growing degree day map (Base 5 °C) observed across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-June 15, 2020). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (15Jun2020). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10 ºC, April 1-June 1, 2020) is below (Fig. 8):

Figure 8. Growing degree day map (Base 10 °C) observed across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-June 15, 2020). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (15Jun2020). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The lowest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from <-1 to >8 °C in the map below (Fig. 9).

Figure 9. Lowest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (April 1-June 15, 2020). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (15Jun2020). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The highest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from <15 to >32 °C in the map below (Fig. 10).

Figure 10. Highest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (April 1-June 15, 2020). Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (15Jun2020). Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true&reset=1588297059209

The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Growers can bookmark the AAFC Current Conditions Drought Watch Maps for the growing season.  Historical weather data can be access at the AAFC Drought Watch website, Environment Canada's Historical Data website, or your provincial weather network.