Weekly Update (Aug 24, 2017; Wk 17) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – Temperature - Crops continue to mature and some fields have been harvested across the prairies.  The map below reflects the number of days above 25°C (Fig. 1) while the next map reflects the number of days above 30°C (Fig. 2).

Figure 1. Number of days above 25°C.

Figure 2. Number of days above 30°C.

The map below reflects the highest temperatures across the prairies the past seven days (Fig. 3) while the lowest temperatures the past seven days reveals some cool nights in some areas (Fig. 4).

Figure 3.  Highest temperatures the past seven days (August  15-21, 2017) across
the Canadian prairies.

Figure 4. Lowest temperatures the past seven days (August  15-21, 2017) across
the Canadian prairies.

Precipitation - Seven-day rainfall accumulations were greatest in central Alberta into Saskatchewan but also in eastern Saskatchewan and into Manitoba (Fig. 5). 

Figure 5. Accumulated precipitation the past seven days (August 15-21, 2017).

The accumulated precipitation for the growing season (Fig. 6) continues to reflect dryer growing conditions and dryer than normal for most of the prairies (Fig. 7). 

Figure 6. Accumulated precipitation for the growing season (April 1-21, 2017).

Figure 7. Percent of average precipitation for the growing season (April 1-August 21, 2017).

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – August 20, 2017) is below:

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5ºC, March 1 – August 20, 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.

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.

Weekly Update (Aug 03, 2017; Wk 14) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – This past week’s temperatures were above normal in many locations on the prairies, especially south and central Alberta and Saskatchewan (Fig. 1).  

Figure 1. Highest temperatures across the Canadian prairies the 
past seven days (July 25-31, 2017).

Seven-day rainfall accumulations were low across the prairies. Total 30-day rainfall accumulations indicate that conditions are normal to dryer-than-normal for most of the prairies (Fig. 2). 

Figure 2.  Percent of average precipitation across the Canadian prairies the 
past 30 days (July 2-31, 2017). 

Growing season (April 1 – July 31, 2017) percent of average precipitation continues to be average for some areas of Alberta, but below average for most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Figure 3.  Percent of average precipitation across the Canadian prairies over 
the growing season (April 1-July 31, 2017).

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – July 30, 2017) is below:

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5ºC, March 1 – July 30, 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.

Weekly Update (Jul 27, 2017; Wk 13) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – This week’s temperatures were similar to last week, both the seven-day (Fig. 1) and 30-day average temperatures (Fig. 2) were similar to long term averages (Fig. 3). Compared to 30-day average temperatures, Alberta was above normal, whereas Saskatchewan and Manitoba were slightly below normal (Fig. 2).

Figure 1.  Accumulated precipitation the past  7 days (from July 17-24, 2017) across the Canadian prairies.

Figure 2.  Accumulated precipitation the past 30 days (from June 24-July 24, 2017) across the Canadian prairies.

Figure 3.  Long Term Normal (LTN) average temperatures over 30 days
 (from June 24-July 24) across the Canadian prairies.

Seven-day rainfall accumulations were low across the prairies ( Fig. 4). Total 30-day rainfall accumulations indicate that conditions are normal to dryer than normal for most of the prairies (Fig. 5). Growing season (April 1 – July 23, 2017) percent of average precipitation continues to be average for most of Alberta and below average for most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Figure 4. Accumulated precipitation the past seven days (July 17-24, 2017) across the Canadian prairies.

Figure 5. Accumulated precipitation the past 30 days (June 24-July 24, 2017) across the Canadian prairies.

Figure 6.  Percent of average precipitation  for the across the Canadian prairies for
the growing season (April 1-July 24, 2017).

The lowest temperatures across the prairies over the past seven days (July 18-24, 2017) are mapped below.  

In contrast, the highest temperatures recorded over the past seven days (July 13-19, 2017) are presented below. 

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – July 23, 2017) is below:

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5ºC, March 1 – July 23, 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.

Weekly Update (Jul 20, 2017; Wk 12) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – Seven-day rainfall accumulations were generally greater than the previous week. Some areas in southern prairies received 10 to 30 mm of rain (Fig. 1). Total 30-day rainfall for June 17 to July 16, 2017, indicates that conditions are somewhat dryer than normal for most of the prairies. Figure 2 indicates that the regions with <40% of average rainfall (30-day) now include much of southern Saskatchewan, as well as large spots of southern Alberta and Manitoba. The percent of average precipitation for this growing season continues to be average for most of Alberta and below average for much of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Fig. 3).

Figure 1.  Accumulated precipitation across the Canadian prairies the past  seven days (July 10-16, 2017).

Figure 2.  Accumulated precipitation across the Canadian prairies the past  30 days (June 17-July 16, 2017).

Figure 3.  Percent of average precipitation across the Canadian prairies from June 17-July 16, 2017.

Over the past week, the warmest temperatures occurred over a large area from Brandon to Edmonton and south to the Canada-USA border. Although temperatures were warmer (1°C) than last week, both the 7- and 30-day average temperatures were similar to long-term normal (LTN). Compared to 30-day average temperatures, Alberta was above normal whereas Saskatchewan and Manitoba were slightly below normal. 

The lowest temperatures across the prairies over the past seven days (July 13-19, 2017) are mapped below.  

In contrast, the highest temperatures recorded over the past seven days (July 13-19, 2017) are presented below.  

The growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – July 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.

Weekly Update (Jul 13, 2017; Wk 11) - Weather Synopsis

Weather synopsis – Although temperatures were warmer than last week, both the seven- and 30-day average temperatures were similar to long term averages.

Compared to 30-day average temperatures, Alberta was above normal, whereas Saskatchewan and Manitoba were slightly below normal.

Central and northern regions of all three provinces reported increased rainfall amounts. Total 30-day rainfall accumulations indicate that conditions are normal to dryer than normal for most of the prairies.

Growing season (April 1 – July 10, 2017) percent of average precipitation is average for most of Alberta and below average for most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The lowest temperatures across the prairies over the past seven days (July 5-11, 2017) are mapped below.  

In contrast, the highest temperatures recorded over the past seven days (July 5-11, 2017) are presented below.  

The updated growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 5ºC, March 1 – July 9, 2017) is below:

While the growing degree day map (GDD) (Base 10ºC, March 1 – July 9, 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.