A Dry September for Western Canada

After some welcome relief in August, much of September turned bone dry again across most of Western Canada.

As can be seen on the map below, aside from a few scattered pockets where rainfall was better – but still below normal – the main Prairie agricultural area has seen just 40% or less of normal precipitation over the past 30 days (shown in dark red). Combined with temperatures in the latter portion of September that were more like summer than fall, the dryness is once again ratcheting up worry over the 2022 growing season.

Indeed, a portion of the beneficial moisture that fell in August (and early September) in parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan has now likely already been lost.

Meanwhile, the latest Canadian Agricultural Weather Prognosticator from World Weather Inc. suggests farmers ought not hold their breath waiting for much-needed moisture ahead of winter freeze up. Released last week, the report said a short-term bout of wetter weather is possible in October, although it won’t be nearly enough to end the current drought.

In fact, there is little chance that drought will not be carried into spring 2022, the report warned.