Reading Time: 5 minutes Low levels of snow pack in the Rockies this winter means Alberta could be in for another season of drought this summer.
Water researcher warns of looming shortages
Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, erratic weather patterns pressure producers to find more efficient water management
Spring weather on the Prairies is a messy thing
Alberta’s spring, along with the other Prairie provinces, has a lot of chaos built in as seasons change and summer tries to assert itself
Reading Time: 4 minutes Alberta’s spring, along with the other Prairie provinces, has a lot of chaos built in as seasons change and summer tries to assert itself
There’s still hope for a spring snowstorm
All three provinces have seen their records set in March or April
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s getting pretty late in the winter, and if you’re a Prairie farmer or skier — or maybe both — you might wonder if there’s still a chance for more moisture in the form of snow. As I have mentioned on several occasions over the years, March and April have seen some of our biggest […] Read more
Prairie water users watch mountain snowpack
Alberta officials say the region’s moisture shortage remains dire but stress the situation could easily turn itself around
Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The best greeting for farmers attending the recent Irrigation Production Conference was the dump of snow outside the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre in Lethbridge. Inside, the need for that type of precipitation was laid bare in order to avoid a water shortage this year. The numbers tell the tale as to […] Read more
Precipitation and atmospheric temperature profiles
The precipitation we receive depends on the air it meets along the way
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Precipitation is a vital aspect of Earth’s climate and plays a significant role in shaping our environment. From gentle drizzles to heavy snowfall, precipitation comes in various forms, each with unique characteristics and formation conditions. This week we’ll delve into different types of precipitation and the atmospheric conditions necessary for their creation. […] Read more
Weather Network predicts mild winter, with caveats
Colder scenario expected for East
MarketsFarm — Strong El Niño conditions that have developed in the Pacific Ocean would typically lead to a milder winter across Canada — but other factors this year could challenge that outlook, according to the winter forecast from The Weather Network, released Wednesday. The winter forecast features a mild start to the season, with a […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Nice, quiet early-winter weather
Issued Nov. 1, covering Nov. 1 to 8
Interesting weather pattern setting up across the Prairies during this forecast period. Well, maybe “interesting” isn’t the right word; “boring” might be a better one. What I mean by “interesting” is just how quickly we swung from a warm fall pattern to a cool winter pattern. Low temperatures across the Prairies over the last week […] Read more
Canada retools inflation baskets with more focus on food, gas
Snowblowers and barbecues in, DVD players out
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s national statistics agency on Tuesday revealed new weights for the basket of goods and services in its Consumer Price Index, giving more prominence to changes in the prices of food and gasoline. The reweighting, which Statistics Canada carries out every year, has historically had only a marginal impact on the […] Read more
Prairie soil moisture picture growing clearer
Alberta driest; Saskatchewan variable; Manitoba mostly OK
It’s a variable soil moisture picture on the Prairies as seeding season draws nearer. The east has enough moisture — and in some cases too much. And it gets progressively drier toward the west, with portions of Alberta nearing critical condition, according to one weather watcher. Bruce Burnett, weather and markets director for the MarketsFarm […] Read more
California picks up debris from latest storm, braces for next
Also: Why all this rain won't end California's drought
Sacramento | Reuters — Rain-soaked Californians took advantage of a break in a weeks-long deluge to haul away dead trees, restore downed power lines and prepare new stacks of sandbags before another series of storms hits the state beginning Friday. In Monterey County along the state’s central coast, communities near the still-rising Salinas River were […] Read more
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