Weekly Update (Aug 17, 2017; Wk 16) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – Temperature - This week’s temperatures were warmest in southern Alberta and Manitoba (Fig. 1). The 30-day average temperatures were warmest along the border with USA (Fig. 2).

Figure 1. Average precipitation across the Canadian prairies the past
seven days (August 7-14, 2017).

Figure 2.  Average temperature across the Canadian prairies the
past 30 days (July 14-August 14, 2017).

After a fair bit heat across the prairies (Fig. 3), a few of us woke to cooler temperatures (Fig. 4) this week!

Figure 3.  Highest temperatures the past seven days (August  10-16, 2017) across
the Canadian prairies.

Figure 4.  Lowest temperatures the past seven days (August  10-16, 2017) across
the Canadian prairies.

Precipitation - Seven-day rainfall accumulations were greatest in regions north of the Yellowhead highway (Fig. 5). Total 30-day rainfall accumulations indicate that conditions dryer than normal for most of the prairies, particularly southern and central regions of Alberta (Fig. 6). 

Figure 5. Accumulated precipitation the past seven days (August 7-13, 2017).

Figure 6. Percent of average precipitation across the Canadian prairies the 
past 30 days (July 15-August 13, 2017). 

This growing season (April 1 – August 13, 2017), the percent of average precipitation continues to be below average for most of the prairies (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. Percent of average precipitation across the Canadian prairies for the 
growing season (April 1-August 13, 2017). 

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – August 13, 2017) is below:

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5ºC, March 1 – August 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.