Reading Time: < 1 minute The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is trying to figure out what has gone wrong with a key component of its newly launched GOES-17 weather satellite. The satellite has a high-resolution camera called the Advanced Baseline Imager that monitors things such as cloud formation, ocean dynamics, and vegetative growth. But the cooling system that is […] Read more
Camera on new weather satellite has a glitch
ICE weekly outlook: Canola braces for turbulence
CNS Canada — The ICE Futures Canada canola market could go on a choppy ride this summer as weather challenges and the topsy-turvy world of international trade battles threaten to fill the next few months with volatility. “Particularly in the summer months, Trump issues and weather issues will be the primary drivers; both are hard […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat climbs on global weather woes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures climbed nearly two per cent on Wednesday on a mix of technical buying and worries about persistent dry weather in major exporting countries including Russia and Australia. Corn and soybeans sagged as weather in the U.S. crop belt remained mostly favourable. Chicago Board of Trade July wheat settled […] Read more
Mustard looking to rebound, if weather co-operates
CNS Canada — Canadian mustard acres may be up on the year, but key growing regions missed out on recent rain and will need more moisture as the season progresses, in order to prevent a repeat of 2017’s drought-stricken crop. “Mustard was offering some profit potential compared to some of the other options out there, […] Read more
Dry weather offers a break for late seeding efforts
Alberta crop conditions as of May 29, 2018
Reading Time: < 1 minute Dry weather conditions helped producers catch up with late seeding and contributed to quick germination and emergence. Recent hot and windy weather lead to the increased drying of both surface soil moisture and sub-surface soil moisture. The forecasted cooler temperatures and scattered showers throughout the province are anticipated to aid overall crop growing conditions. Provincially, […] Read more
In summer, Mother Nature starts cooking up thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are one of the most fascinating weather events and it helps to know how they’re made
Reading Time: 4 minutes As spring begins to transition into summer, I like to revisit what I find to be one of the most interesting weather topics — thunderstorms. As temperatures begin to climb and moisture (hopefully) begins to flow northwards, the ingredients come together to develop thunderstorms. So far this year we haven’t seen much thunderstorm activity, but as […] Read more
Seeding makes good progress, surface soil moisture levels declining
Alberta crop conditions as of May 22, 2018
Reading Time: < 1 minute Warm and dry weather over the past week provided favourable conditions for seeding operations in most of the province. Provincially, seeding progress has increased 30 per cent from a week ago, to 67 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average (2013-2017) of 83 per cent. Regionally, seeding progress is most advanced in the Southern […] Read more
Thirty-eight per cent of crops seeded, soil moisture varies
Alberta crop conditions as of May 15, 2018
Reading Time: 2 minutes In the first half of May, temperatures have been the warmest since 1961 in most parts of the province and most areas received less than 10 mm of moisture. This has provided the ideal weather for quick ground thaw and allowed for seeding operations to be in full swing across the province. Provincially, as of […] Read more
Forage supplies starting to dip on dry Prairies
CNS Canada — Forage supplies are starting to dwindle across Western Canada following a long, cold, winter and rain is needed soon to make for a good forage crop this year. “People tended to kind of blend hay this year and they managed to get through. But the prolonged cold spring really I think put […] Read more
If you like cold, the first half of April delivered in spades
Most forecasts predicted it would be chilly, but they’re split on what May and June have in store for us
Reading Time: 3 minutes After dealing with a cold and snowy March, most of us across the Prairies were hoping for a little better weather in April. Just how good or bad you saw April’s weather depends on what you wanted. For example, the cross-country skiers were more than happy in my region as the cold start to the month […] Read more