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