Water Supply Outlook for Alberta
December 2005
November 2005 Precipitation |
| Most of Alberta, including the mountains and foothills recorded below to much below normal precipitation. Mainly normal precipitation was recorded in a band from the Pincher Creek area to the Calgary area and east to the Oyen area (Figure 1). November precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2. |
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 3). Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 4. Alberta Agriculture models soil moisture for non-mountainous, agricultural areas of Alberta. Soil moisture at the end of October 2005 is illustrated in Figure 5, which shows almost all of the province south of Edmonton is very wet and most of the agricultural areas in northwestern and north central Alberta are dry. |
Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook |
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Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on December 1, 2005 for the December 2005 through February 2006 period is for above normal precipitation in the northern third of the province and normal precipitation for the rest of Alberta. Above normal temperatures are expected for most of northern Alberta for the next three months, with normal temperatures expected for the remainder of the province. The long range forecast for March through May 2006 is for below normal precipitation except along the northwestern and southeastern borders where normal precipitation is forecast. Spring temperatures are forecast at this time to be below normal in northern Alberta and normal in southern Alberta. 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 November 17, 2005 for December 2005 through to the end of February 2006 is for above normal temperatures and an equal chance of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation for southern Alberta. The long range forecast for March through May 2006 is for an equal chance of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation and temperature for southern Alberta. The NOAA reported last month that ENSO neutral or weak La Nina conditions are expected for the next six to nine months. NOAA's long-lead precipitation outlook is available from their website located at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/. |
For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca
