April weather across Western Canada delivered a mix of cooler-than-normal temperatures and uneven precipitation, creating a patchy start to spring seeding preparations across the Prairies.
Temperature data show much of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced below-normal readings through late April, with some areas running 3 to 5 degrees Celsius colder than average. The coldest conditions were centred over central and eastern Saskatchewan (see map below), where persistent chill slowed soil warming and delayed early field activity.
Precipitation patterns were far less uniform. Parts of central Saskatchewan and northern Alberta received near to above-average moisture, with localized pockets well above normal (see map below). In contrast, southern Alberta remained notably dry, with some regions receiving less than 60% of average precipitation over the past 30 days. Southern Manitoba also saw mixed conditions, with drier pockets emerging alongside areas of heavier rainfall.
In drier regions, especially southern Alberta, moisture deficits remain a concern heading into planting, raising the risk of uneven emergence if timely rains do not materialize.
Weather across the Canadian Prairies over the next week is expected to remain somewhat unsettled, with a gradual transition toward warmer temperatures after the recent cold stretch. Early in the period, lingering cool air—especially across Saskatchewan and Manitoba—will keep soil temperatures below ideal levels, potentially slowing germination for early-seeded crops. However, forecasts point to a warming trend developing by mid- to late-week, which should help accelerate field activity.
Precipitation will be mixed, with scattered showers moving through parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, while some southern areas may remain on the drier side.
