July 2006 Precipitation

Much below normal precipitation was recorded in southern Alberta (Figure 1). Most mountain and foothill areas of the province recorded precipitation which was 20-60% of normal (Figure 1a). Central and north central areas of Alberta generally recorded below normal precipitation, however areas west of Grande Cache and Grande Prairie recorded normal to above normal precipitation. The northern third of the province recorded much above normal precipitation, with the exception of the northeast corner of the province, which recorded below normal precipitation. July precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2.

Summer Precipitation (May 1, 2006 to July 31, 2006)

Above to much above normal precipitation was recorded in northern Alberta, with the exception of the northeast corner of the province, which recorded below normal to normal precipitation. The rest of the province generally recorded below normal to normal precipitation, with the exception of a swath from west of Calgary to southeast of Medicine Hat, which recorded above normal precipitation. Most mountain and foothill areas recorded below to much below normal precipitation (Figure 3). Summer precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 4.

Winter Precipitation (November 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006)

Most of northern and central Alberta recorded much below normal winter precipitation. The exceptions are High Level and a small area between Drayton Valley and Rocky Mountain House which recorded below normal precipitation. Southern Alberta recorded mainly below normal precipitation, except for Medicine Hat, Pincher Creek and some mountain areas to the southwest, and some mountian areas west of Banff which recorded normal precipitation (Figure 5). Winter precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 6.

Fall Precipitation (September 1 to October 31, 2005)

Much below normal precipitation was recorded in most of the northern half of the province. Generally above normal to much above normal precipitation was recorded in the southern half of the province, but below normal to normal precipitation was measured in much of the area between Edmonton, Wainwright and Drumheller (Figure 7). Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 8.

Soil moisture conditions in agricultural areas of the province, as measured by Alberta Agriculture for October 31, 2005 , can be seen in Figure 9. Soil moisture generally ranges from normal to an extreme surplus in southern and west central Alberta and the Cold Lake - Lloydminster area. Edmonton and the area north ranges from below to much below normal, and the Grande Prairie - High Level area ranges from well below normal to extreme deficit.

Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook

Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on August 1, 2006 for the August through October 2006 period is for above normal temperatures in much of the province, and below normal precipitation for all but northeastern Alberta, where normal to above normal precipitation is anticipated. Environment Canada's long-lead precipitation outlook is available from their website located at: http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) long-lead forecasts issued on July 20, 2006 for August through October 2006 is for an even chance of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation and temperature in southern Alberta. The NOAA is reporting that ENSO neutral conditions (no El Nino or La Nina) are expected for the next three months, and neutral or weak El Nino conditions are equally likely into early 2007 . NOAA's long-lead precipitation outlook is available from their website located at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/.