Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

July 2008

June 2008 Precipitation

Above to much above normal precipitation was recorded in southern Alberta except for the Cypress Hills area, which recorded below normal to normal precipitation. The mountains and foothills of the province recorded normal to above normal precipitation with the exceptions of the upper Highwood and Oldman River basins, which recorded below normal to normal precipitation, and the Crowsnest Pass area, which recorded below to much below normal precipitation. Most of the central and north central plains area of the province recorded below to much below normal precipitation. The northwestern corner of Alberta and areas along the Northwest Territories border recorded above to much above normal precipitation (Figure 1). June precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2.

 

Summer Precipitation (May 1, 2008 to June 30, 2008)

Southern Alberta recorded above to much above normal precipitation with the exception of the Cypress Hills area south of Medicine Hat, which recorded normal precipitation. The mountains and foothills of Alberta recorded above to much above normal precipitation except for an area between Banff and Jasper, which recorded below normal to normal precipitation. Precipitation in central and northern Alberta varied between much below normal and normal, except in the northwestern corner of Alberta, which recorded above to much above normal precipitation (Figure 3). Summer precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 4.

 

Winter Precipitation (November 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008)

Most of the province recorded below normal to normal precipitation, with the exceptions of the Cold Lake-Lloydminster and Cypress Hills areas, which recorded above normal precipitation, and most southern and central plains areas, which recorded much below normal precipitation. The mountain and foothills of the province generally recorded below normal to normal precipitation (Figure 5). Winter precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 6.


 

Fall Precipitation (September 1 to October 31, 2007)

Below to much below normal precipitation was recorded in most of the province (Figure 7). Above to much above normal precipitation was recorded in many mountain and foothill locations of the Banff-Pincher Creek area, in the Milk River-Cypress Hills area, and in the far north of the province that includes areas north of High Level and the Fort Chipewyan area. Some areas of the Upper Smoky and Athabasca River basins recorded normal to above normal precipitation. Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 8.
 

A map of fall plains soil moisture in the province as estimated by Alberta Agriculture can be seen here .
 

Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook

Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on July 1, 2008 for the July through September 2008 period is for below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures throughout the province. 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's (NOAA) long-lead forecasts issued on June 19, 2008 for July through to the end of September 2008 is for below normal precipitation occuring in southernmost Alberta and equal chances of below normal, normal, or above normal temperatures for southern Alberta. Equal chances of below normal, normal, or above normal precipitation and temperatures are forecasted for the October through December 2008 period for southern Alberta. The NOAA reported June 19, 2008 that the ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation) is currently in transition from La Nina to neutral conditions through July, August and September 2008. 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