Thursday 22 August 2019

Weather synopsis (August 22, 2019; Wk 20)

Weather synopsis –  The PPMN's mapping of current data is complete for the 2019 growing season as of Wk 19.  Please refer to the AAFC Drought Watch website, access Environment Canada's Historical Data website, or your provincial weather network.

Across the prairies, average temperatures were slightly cooler than long term climate normals (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. Mean temperature difference (°C) from Normal observed across the Canadian prairies for the past month (July 23- August 19, 2019).  Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true

Significant rainfall amounts were reported across parts of the northern Peace River region, southern AB and SK (Fig. 2). Across the prairies, rainfall amounts for the past 30 days have been lowest across the southern prairies (Fig. 3 and 4). 

Figure 2. Accumulated precipitation (mm) observed across the Canadian prairies for the past seven days (as of August 21, 2019).  Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true

Figure 3. Accumulated precipitation (mm) observed across the Canadian prairies for the past 30 days (as of August 21, 2019).  Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true

Figure 4. Percent of average precipitation (%) for the Canadian prairies for the past 30 days (as of August 21, 2019).  Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true

Growing season rainfall amounts have been below average across much of Manitoba, southern regions of AB and west-central SK, and in the far north of the Peace River region (Fig. 5). 
Figure 5. Percent of average precipitation observed across the Canadian prairies for the growing season (April 1-August 21, 2019).  Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true


The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5 ºC, April 1-August 18, 2019) is below (Fig. 6):


The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10 ºC, April 1-August 18, 2019) is below (Fig. 7):


The lowest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from at least 10 down to below -2 °C in the map below (Fig. 8).
Figure 8. Lowest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (to August 21, 2019).
Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true


The highest temperatures (°C) observed the past seven days ranged from at least 17 up to at least 33 °C in the map below (Fig. 9).
Figure 9. Highest temperatures (°C) observed across the Canadian prairies the past seven days (to August 21, 2019).
Image has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada and was retrieved (22Aug2019).  Access the full map at http://www.agr.gc.ca/DW-GS/current-actuelles.jspx?lang=eng&jsEnabled=true

The maps above are all produced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Growers can bookmark the AAFC Drought Watch Maps for the growing season.