Map: March Brings Improvement in Ontario, Quebec Dryness and Drought

Central Region dryness and drought improved in March, but the impacts of an extremely dry fall season are continuing to echo. 

The March update of the Canadian drought monitor on Wednesday said 34% of the agricultural lands in the central region – which includes both Ontario and Quebec – were being impacted by abnormal dryness or some drought as of the end of last month. That is down from more than half (56%) at the end of February and 55% in January. 

The Central Region experienced normal to above normal March precipitation, with most areas of central Ontario receiving more than 150% of normal precipitation, the monitor said. However, precipitation was near normal in the southern regions, and even below normal in the Sarnia and Windsor areas. The majority of Quebec received near to above normal precipitation.  

Southern Ontario generally saw improvements in abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions. However, three pockets of moderate drought remained around Kitchener, Oshawa and Kingston.  

Significant moisture, mainly from snowstorms, helped reduce abnormally dry conditions in areas east of Lake Superior and central Ontario. 

In southern Quebec, drought conditions remained relatively unchanged, with the notable exception of the removal of large abnormally dry areas in the Gaspé region and the removal of a small area of moderate drought northwest of Montreal.