Abnormal dryness and drought across Ontario and Quebec agricultural lands eased slightly last month, even as southern Ontario experienced one of its driest Novembers on record.
According to the latest monthly update of the Canadian Drought Monitor, 95% of the agricultural lands in the Central Region – which includes both Ontario and Quebec – were classified as abnormally dry or in some form of drought as of the end of November. That’s down from 99% at the end of October and 97% in September but still up from 84% in August.
November precipitation was mixed across the Central Region, with well below normal levels recorded through northwestern Ontario, southern Ontario, and eastern Quebec, but above normal levels in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
Southern Ontario, including Windsor and Toronto, received less than half of normal precipitation in November, leading to the expansion of moderate and severe drought areas. Several regions continued to experience low water conditions, the monitor said, including Lower Trent, Crowe Valley, Rideau Valley, and Raisin Region. Demand for hauled water remained elevated in some rural communities, the monitor added.
Several snow-laden systems brought early-season snowfall to Ontario, including record-setting snow in southern regions, although the events had “limited impact on ongoing hydrological deficits,” the monitor said.
As can be seen on the map below, moderate drought basically extended all the way from Windsor to Ottawa as of the end of November, with the area between Windsor and Toronto suffering severe drought.
On the other hand, eastern Ontario and southern Quebec received 85 to 115% of normal precipitation last month, easing but not erasing drought conditions.
