2004/06/13 Drought Report for the Agricultural Region of Alberta

Summary

Since the last report (May 30, 2004) relatively wet weather has dominated over most of the province with total amounts ranging from 0-70mm, this compares with July normals that range between 40-140 mm. Areas generally receiving little or no of the precipitation include the northern and eastern halves of the Peace region, along with parts of northern Alberta. Areas receiving up to 70 mm of precipitation include areas in the southern and central Peace region, also locally around the town of Lloydminster and also isolated pockets in central and southeastern Alberta. As a result of the generally cool wet weather, long-term drought conditions have continued to ease. During the first half of June, the percent of the province in Drought and Drought Alert decreased, whereas the percent of the province in Normal increased.

Precipitation during the past 90 days has resulted in a trend toward Normal, or low risk of drought, for most of the province, including most areas currently in Drought status. If this trend persists, long-term drought conditions will normalize in a few months. However soil moisture conditions were drier than normal in most of central and western Alberta and throughout most of the Peace region. There is still immediate need for moisture in the Peace region and in east central Alberta. There is not enough soil moisture reserve to carry a crop through the next two weeks in these areas.

Current Situation

Seasonal drought (Figure 1):

• Approximately 79% of the reporting area of Alberta is in Normal status up from 68% since the last report. About 20% of the areas is classified as Drought Alert, down from 38% since the last report. On the negative side, one Drought area has appeared in the M.D. of Big Lakes representing 0.3% of the mapped area.
• In the Peace region only the central and southern western Peace and a small pocket in the M.D. of Mackenzie are in Normal status and the remainder of the region, including parts of counties of Woodland, Barrhead are classified as Drought Alert. One area in the M.D. of Big Lakes fell into the Drought category.
• A portion of central Alberta extending into the counties of Flagstaff, Camrose, Stettler, Paintearth and, Starland, were in Drought Alert status. Also included in the category is a small area straddling the boundary between Special Areas 3 and 4

• Since the last drought report (May 30th) the areas classified as Drought have decreased by over 1% and now total 8%.
• Areas in the Drought category include portions of the MD's of Pincher Creek, Willow Creek, and Acadia, along with Special Areas 2, 3 and 4. Counties affected include Cardston, Kneehill, Starland, Red Deer, Stettler, Paintearth, Lacombe, Ponoka and Camrose.
• The areas in Drought Alert include most of the western half of the Peace region, much of southern, central and western Alberta.
• Currently slightly less than 46% of the reporting area is in the Drought Alert just under that reported on May 30th. Approximately 46% of the reporting area is classified as Normal, the same as reported on May 30th and includes northeastern Alberta, the east half of the Peace region and in the south, some isolated pockets including west of Edmonton, west of and surrounding Calgary and in the counties of Newel, Cypress, Forty mile and Warner.
• In the Cypress Hills, erroneous precipitation amounts reported during the past several weeks were discovered and corrected. This area has been showing normal since May 30 rather than Extreme Drought conditions as was reported prior to May 30th.

• Recent (90 day) trends toward Normal conditions were observed in most of the Province (Figure 3). Since 46% of the province was in Drought Alert status, this represents a trend toward improvement in drought conditions.
• The County Flagstaff is currently the only area in Drought Alert, which is showing no trend toward improvement. This area is expected to remain in Drought Alert status, and is expected to remain at risk if current conditions persist.
• All areas currently in Drought status are trending toward Normal and if conditions persist will move out of risk.

• Precipitation over the past 90 days was Near Normal for the southwest and central Peace region. In the rest of Alberta at least Near Normal conditions were recorded in all but the east central portion of the province and some Isolated pockets in the central and southern portions of the province with recoded Below Normal, Precipitation was Below Normal in the northern and eastern Peace, and also in east central Alberta with numerous small pockets appearing in the southern half of the province.. Areas that experienced Much Below Normal precipitation included two pockets, one in the M.D of Big Lakes and the other in the County of Flagstaff (Figure 4).
• Since the last report (May 30, 2004) relatively cool, wet weather has dominated over most of the province with total amounts ranging from 0-70mm. Isolated areas in the M.D.'s Clear Hills, Fairview, Big Lakes and Lesser Slave River received less than 10 mm. Areas receiving between 10-20 mm include eastern halves of the Peace region, along with parts of northern Alberta and some isolated pockets in the counties of Flagstaff, Leduc and the northeast corner of Lamont. Up to 70 mm of precipitation was recorded in several locations though out the province including Special Area 2, the counties of Kneehill, Vermillion River, Grande Prairie and Birch Hills (Figure 5).
• Historically June and July are the wettest months in Alberta. June has been particularly important in the south-central and southeastern portions of the province as in these areas drying trends typically begin to occur in July. In June total precipitation amounts typically range from 50 mm in the southeast to 120 mm in the Swan Hills (Figure 6).

• Soil moisture levels were less than 50 mm of plant available water in most of the north half of the Peace northwest and east central Alberta regions (Figure 7). This is not enough moisture to carry annual crops through the next two weeks. Pasture conditions in these areas are expected to be even drier. Significant precipitation over the past few months has led to wet conditions (125-250 mm) in the northeast, west if Calgary and the central part of Cypress county. Too much moisture in these may result in crop losses in low-lying areas.
• Soil moisture levels are in Extreme Deficit for most of the north half of the Peace northwest and east central Alberta regions. Soil moisture levels are Well Below Normal in most of central Alberta, the Peace region and in the southwest (Figure 8).