Water Supply Outlook for Alberta
July 2005
June 2005 Precipitation |
Three major storm events in June resulted in southern Alberta and mountain and foothill areas of central Alberta recording two to six times the normal precipitation for the month! Northwestern Alberta recorded generally below normal precipitation. The rest of northern and central Alberta generally recorded normal precipitation (Figure 1). Southern Alberta recorded an average summer's worth (May - August) or more of precipitation during June 2005, except for the area south of Medicine Hat. Oyen and two locations in the upper Highwood River and Willow Creek basins recorded nearly two summer's worth of precipitation this past June! (Figure 2). June precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 3. |
May 2005 Precipitation |
| Precipitation in northern Alberta generally ranged from normal to much above normal during May, with the exception of areas of Wood Buffalo National Park (northwest of Fort Chipewyan), which recorded below normal to much below normal precipitation. Most areas of central Alberta recorded below normal to much below normal precipitation while southern Alberta recorded much below normal precipitation (Figure 4). May precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 5. |
Summmer Precipitation (May 1, 2005 to June 30, 2005) |
| Southern Alberta and mountains and foothills of central Alberta recorded one and a half to two and a half times normal May to June precipitation, while areas of the upper Highwood River and Willow Creek basins recorded three to three and a half times the normal May to June precipitation. The rest of central Alberta generally recorded below normal to normal summer precipitation. Northwestern Alberta generally recorded below normal to normal summer precipitation. Northeastern Alberta generally recorded normal to above normal summer precipitation. (Figure 6). Summer precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 7. |
Winter Precipitation (November 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005) |
| Most of northern and west central Alberta recorded below normal to normal winter precipitation. A few exceptions being small areas north of Fort McMurray and east of Red Deer, the town of Peace River, and the High Level region, where above normal to much above normal precipitation was recorded, and the area between Slave Lake, Edmonton, and Lac La Biche where much below normal precipitation was recorded. East central and southern plains areas of Alberta recorded much below normal precipitation with the exceptions of the Medicine Hat and Lloydminster areas where normal precipitation was recorded, and the Cypress Hills which recorded above normal winter precipitation. In the mountains, below normal to normal precipitation was recorded, with one exception being the Sunshine area (southwest of Banff) which recorded much above normal precipitation (Figure 8). Winter precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 9. |
Fall Precipitation (September 1 to October 31, 2004) |
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Much above normal precipitation was recorded in a band across the province from Peace River and Jasper to Cold Lake, whereas northeastern Alberta recorded normal precipitation and the northwestern corner of the province recorded below normal precipitation. Most of southern Alberta recorded below normal to normal precipitation except in Rocky Mountain House, High River, and Claresholm where much above normal precipitation occurred, and the Drumheller, Brooks, and Medicine Hat areas where much below normal precipitation was recorded (Figure 10). Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 11. Soil moisture conditions in agricultural areas of the province, as measured by Alberta Agriculture for October 31, 2004 , can be seen in Figure 12. Soil moisture generally ranges from normal to well above normal in southern and western Alberta, with the most notable exceptions being in the High Level and Edson areas, which range from below normal to extreme deficit. Much of east central Alberta is classified as having below to well below normal soil moisture.
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Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook |
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Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on July 1, 2005 for the July through September 2005 period is for below normal precipitation, but normal along the southern Saskatchewan border. Above normal temperatures are expected for the province. 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 June 16, 2005 for July through September 2005 is for above normal precipitation and an even chance of above normal, normal, or below normal temperature in southern Alberta. The NOAA is reporting that ENSO neutral conditions (no El Nino or La Nina) are expected for the next three to six 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
