Water Supply Outlook for Alberta
August 2002
July 2002 Precipitation |
| Much-below-normal precipitation in July was recorded in the province, with the exception of the northeastern corner, which received above-normal precipitation during the month (Figure 1). Areas around Medicine Hat, including the Cypress Hills, recorded above-normal to much-above-normal precipitation in July (Figure 2). The largest precipitation totals in July were recorded in the Fort McMurray area, where over 250 mm was recorded (Figure 3). |
Summer Precipitation (May 1 to July 31, 2002) |
| Summer precipitation (May 1 to July 31, 2002) in areas north of Calgary is much-below-normal after another below-normal precipitation month in July (Figure 4). Areas south of Calgary have received above-normal to much-above-normal precipitation this summer despite the below-normal precipitation in July (Figure 5). The Pincher Creek/Waterton area has received in excess of 600 mm of precipitation this summer, with the majority of that occurring in June (Figure 6). |
Winter Precipitation (November 1, 2001 to April 30, 2002) |
| Winter precipitation (November 1, 2001 to April 30, 2002) is near normal in most areas west of a Grande-Prairie-Whitecourt-Red Deer-Lethbridge line and below-normal in areas east of this line (Figure 7). Precipitation in April helped raise winter totals closer to normal values, particularly in southern Alberta (Figure 8). Areas along the eastern side of the province have received much-below-normal precipitation to date and the higher elevations in the mountains, which have recorded above-normal values (Figure 9). |
Fall Precipitation (September 1 to October 31, 2001) |
|
Fall Precipitation was below-normal to much-below-normal in most areas of the province
(Figure 10) with
southern areas recording much-below-normal values (Figure 11). As a result
of the low precipitation totals (Figure 12), soil moisture
conditions remain very dry in most areas of the province. A map showing soil moisture conditions in the province is available from
the Alberta Agriculture website located at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/cl5882 |
Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook |
|
Environment Canada's long-lead precipitation forecast on June 1 for the June to August period indicates
above-normal precipitation in the northern half of the province and below-normal precipitation in southern
Alberta. The forecast for the fall period (September to November) is for above-normal precipitation in the
northern two-thirds of the province and normal in the southern portion of Alberta. Environment Canada's long-lead precipitation outlook
is available from their website located at:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting an equal chance of below-normal, normal
or above-normal precipitation for August. NOAA is forecasting for an
equal chance of below-normal, normal or above-normal precipitation in the fall of 2002 (September to November). NOAA's long-lead precipitation outlook
is available from their website located at: NOAA indicates that a weak El Nino continues to develop in the tropical Pacific. Current indications are that the strength of this El Nino event will be less in magnitude than the event that occurred in the winter of 1997-98. The significance of an El Nino event to the province of Alberta is that winter precipitation is typically below-normal during such events. The last major El Nino event occurred in the winter of 1997-98. |
For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca
