Ontario saw some drought improvement in December, while Quebec saw both gains and losses.
The latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor on Tuesday showed 97% of the agricultural lands in the Central Region – which includes both provinces – impacted by abnormal dryness or some form of drought as of the end of December. That is up a couple of points from November and near the October and September levels.
December brought variable precipitation across the Central Region, with snowfall delivering short-term moisture benefits in parts of Ontario and Quebec. Northwestern Ontario received well above-normal precipitation in some areas, while eastern Ontario was comparatively drier. Southern Ontario generally saw near-normal precipitation, although totals varied widely by location. In Quebec, most southern regions received below-normal precipitation, while parts of northern Quebec experienced a mix of above- and below-normal conditions. Temperatures were slightly cooler than normal across the region, with periods of intense cold in Quebec helping to build snowpack.
Ontario recorded overall improvement in drought conditions during December, with the most notable gains occurring in northern, central, and eastern parts of the province. Northern Ontario saw widespread reductions in abnormal dryness through severe drought, along with a significant pullback in areas classified as extreme drought. Improvements were especially evident in eastern portions of the north, where repeated snowfall events boosted surface moisture, though dryness persisted near the Ontario–Manitoba border.
Central and eastern Ontario also experienced measurable improvement. Accumulating snowfall from snow squalls and fast-moving weather systems led to reductions in severe drought and the elimination of the remaining pocket of extreme drought. Despite the improved surface conditions, water supply concerns remain in eastern Ontario.
In contrast, western and southern Ontario saw only modest improvement. Some areas recorded the removal of severe drought, but pockets of dryness persisted, particularly around Sarnia and London, where abnormal dryness and moderate drought conditions lingered despite recent snowfall.
Quebec’s drought picture was more mixed. Northern Quebec showed improvement, including reductions in severe drought and the removal of extreme drought in parts of the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region following above-normal precipitation. Elsewhere, conditions worsened. Southeastern Quebec saw an expansion of abnormal dryness, while the Gaspé Peninsula experienced further deterioration, with moderate and severe drought expanding and areas of extreme drought remaining in place.
