Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

December 2006

November 2006 Precipitation

Much above normal precipitation was recorded throughout most of Alberta, except for the Fort Chipewyan-High Level-Fort McMurray area which recorded below normal to above normal precipitation and the Oyen-Lethbridge-High River and Sundre areas which generally recorded much below to below normal precipitation (Figure 1). November precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2.
 

Fall Precipitation (September 1 to November 1, 2006)

Much below to below normal precipitation was recorded in most of the northern one-third of the province, the Medicine Hat-Brooks-Lethbridge area, Drumheller and in most mountain and foothill regions south of Jasper. Generally much above to above normal precipitation was recorded in the plains area of Central Alberta and the Cypress Hills (Figure 3). Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 4.
 

Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook

Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on December 1, 2006 for the December 2006 through February 2007 period is for below normal precipitation and below normal temperatures throughout Alberta, except for the northwest quarter of the province which is forecast to receive normal precipitation during this period. 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 16, 2006 for December 2006 through to the end of February 2007 is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for southern Alberta. The NOAA reported on November 9, 2006 that El Nino conditions are likely to continue 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/.

For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca