Weather synopsis – The prairie wide average temperature for May was 2 °C cooler than average (Fig. 1) while rainfall was approximately 50% of average (Fig. 2). The coolest conditions have occurred across southern MB and SK.
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| Figure 1. Average temperature (°C) across the Canadian prairies for the month of May (May 1-31, 2019). |
This week (May 29 – June 4, 2019) weather conditions were warm and dry. Across the prairies, temperatures were 3-4 °C warmer than last week and 1-2 °C warmer than average (Fig. 3). The warmest temperatures were observed across a region that extended from Medicine Hat AB to Saskatoon SK and southwestern MB.
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| Figure 3. Average temperature (°C) across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (May 29-June 4, 2019). |
Average 30-day temperatures were warmest in AB and coolest in eastern SK and MB (Fig. 4). Northern locations within the Peace River region were warmer than average.
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| Figure 4. Average temperature (°C) across the Canadian prairies the past 30 days (May 5-June 4, 2019). |
Seven day cumulative rainfall indicated that minimal rain was observed across most of the prairies (Fig. 5). Most locations reported less than 5 mm. Higher rainfall amounts were reported in southwestern AB, southeastern SK and an area near Dauphin MB.
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| Figure 5. Cumulative precipitation observed the past seven days across the Canadian prairies (May 29-June 4, 2019). |
Across the prairies, rainfall amounts for the past 30 days (May 5 – June 4, 2019) were approximately 48 % of normal (Fig. 7 and 8). Most of the prairies reported rainfall amounts less than 40 % of normal.
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| Figure 6. Cumulative precipitation observed the past 30 days across the Canadian prairies (May 5-June 4, 2019). |
Growing season rainfall (April 1 – June 4) amounts have been well below average for most of the prairies, particularly in west central SK and eastern regions of AB (Fig. 7). Almost all of the prairies has had growing season rainfall that is 85 percent, or less, than average.
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| Figure 7. Cumulative precipitation observed for the growing season across the Canadian prairies (April 1-June 4, 2019). |
Soil moisture values are low across most of the prairies (Fig. 9).
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| Figure 9. Modeled soil moisture (%) across the Canadian prairies (up to June 4, 2019). |
The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5 ºC, April 1-June 3, 2019) is below (Fig. 10):
The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10 ºC, April 1-June 3, 2019) is below (Fig. 11):
The lowest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from 6 to at least -5 °C in the map below (Fig. 12).
The highest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from 14 to at least 32 °C in the map below (Fig. 14).
The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Growers can bookmark the AAFC Drought Watch Maps for the growing season.
