Some abnormal dryness crept into southern Ontario in September, after being absent for the 2026 growing season.
According to the latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor, 58% of the agricultural lands in the Central Region – which includes both Ontario and Quebec – were either abnormally dry or in some form of drought as of Sept. 30, up from 33% at the end of August and 31% at the end of July. And for the first time since March, a portion of southern Ontario was being impacted, as abnormally dry conditions developed in a region from Owen Sound to Brampton during September (see map below).
Precipitation was generally below to well below normal across Ontario and Quebec last month, the monitor said. Parts of southern and central Ontario received less than 40% of normal rainfall, contributing to poor soil moisture conditions and low streamflows.
However, some areas of northwestern Ontario received above-normal precipitation, helping to ease longer-term moisture deficits and improve drought conditions. The most significant improvements occurred in southern portions of northwestern Ontario.
Conditions were also mixed across Quebec, where large portions of southern and central regions received less than 60% of normal September precipitation.
The rainfall shortages resulted in an expansion of abnormal dryness across southern Quebec, although localized improvements were reported elsewhere in the province.
September temperatures were slightly below normal across southern portions of the Central Region but became progressively warmer farther north. Parts of northern Ontario and Quebec experienced temperatures 3–4 degrees C above the monthly average.
