It delayed the harvest in many areas, but October precipitation at least brought some improvement in Prairie moisture conditions heading into the winter.
The latest monthly updated of the Canadian drought monitor showed just 6% of Prairie agricultural lands were being impacted by abnormal dryness or drought as of the end of October, down slightly from 9% at the end of September and well below 35% at the end of August.
"Significant precipitation" during October resulted in considerable improvements in drought conditions across much of the Prairie region, particularly in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where areas affected by moderate and severe drought shrank substantially, the monitor said.
The improvement followed a series of rain and snow events throughout the month, beginning with the first widespread snowfall of the season over the Thanksgiving long weekend. That storm affected much of Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and northern Manitoba, bringing freezing rain and heavy snow to some northern areas.
Precipitation totals across north-central Alberta exceeded 275% of normal during the first half of October. Additional thunderstorms brought rain to parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba later in the month, while another snowstorm deposited up to 16 cm across central and northeastern Alberta.
The latter system pushed precipitation totals to as much as 400% of normal in some areas during the second half of October.
However, not all areas shared equally in the wealth. Abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions expanded northwest of Calgary, reflecting ongoing short- and long-term moisture deficits, the monitor said (see map below).
Temperatures were also unusually mild throughout much of October. Southern Prairie temperatures averaged about 2 degrees C above normal during the first half of the month, while parts of eastern Manitoba experienced temperatures as much as 5 C above normal later in October. Southern Manitoba temperatures reached 25 C near month's end.
