Water Supply Outlook for Alberta
March 2006
February 2006 Precipitation |
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| In the Medicine Hat, High Level, Fort McMurray, Edson-Red Deer-Calgary, and Pincher Creek-Waterton Park regions, precipitation recorded during the month was above to much above normal. Precipitation in other southern mountain areas varied widely. Normal precipitation was recorded in Fort Chipewyan, Cold Lake and Lloydminister. In the remainder of the province (most of north and east central Alberta, Jasper and Lethbridge areas) below to much below normal precipitation was recorded (Figure 1). February precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2. |
Winter Precipitation (November 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006) |
| Below to much below normal precipitation has been recorded throughout the province, with normal to above normal winter precipitation in southern mountain areas and normal precipitation in the Medicine Hat area and in Calgary (Figure 3). Winter precipitation totals are illustrated in (Figure 4). |
Fall Precipitation (September 1 to October 31, 2005) |
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Much below normal precipitation was recorded in most of the northern half of the province. Generally above to much above normal precipitation was recorded in the southern half of the province, but normal to below normal precipitation was measured in much of the area between Edmonton, Wainwright and Drumheller (Figure 5). Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 6. Alberta Agriculture models soil moisture for non-mountainous, agricultural areas of Alberta. Soil moisture at the end of October 2005 is illustrated in Figure 7, 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 March 1, 2006 for the March through May 2006 period is for below normal precipitation in southern, north-eastern and east-central Alberta and mainly normal precipitation for the remainder of the province. Below normal temperatures are expected throughout Alberta for the next three months. 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 February 16, 2006 for March through to the end of May 2006 is for an equal chance of above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation, and below normal temperatures, for southern Alberta. The long range forecast for June through August 2006 is for an equal chance of above normal, normal, or below normal temperature and below normal precipitation for southern Alberta. The NOAA reported February 9, 2006 that La Nina conditions are expected to continue 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
