Water Supply Outlook for Alberta
May 2008
April 2008 Precipitation |
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Much above normal precipitation was recorded in most of north central Alberta with the exception of an area south of
Lac La Biche, which recorded below normal to normal precipitation. Precipitation in south central Alberta varied from below to much below
normal in the west to above to much above normal in the east.
Southern Alberta recorded mainly much below normal precipitation except for the Cypress Hills areas south of Medicine Hat, which
recorded much above normal precipitation. In northernmost Alberta, the High Level area recorded much below normal to normal
precipitation and the Fort Chipewyan area recorded normal to above normal precipitation.
In the mountain and foothills of the province, most areas recorded below to much below normal
precipitation, while some locations, near Banff and Jasper recorded normal to much above normal precipitation
(Figure 1).
April precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2.
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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 3). Winter precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 4. |
Fall Precipitation (September 1 to October 31, 2007) |
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Below to much below normal precipitation was recorded in most of the province
(Figure 5).
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 6.
A map of soil moisture in the province as estimated by Alberta Agriculture can be seen
here .
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Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook |
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Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on May 1, 2008
for the May through July 2008 period is for below normal precipitation in
southern half of the province and normal to above normal precipitation in the northern half.
Temperatures for this period are forecast to be below normal for central Alberta, above normal in the northernmost part of Alberta
and normal for the rest of northern Alberta and southern Alberta.
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
