Water Supply Outlook for Alberta

November 2006

October 2006 Precipitation

Much below to below normal precipitation was recorded in the Oyen-Medicine Hat area, mountain and foothills south of Jasper and for most of northern Alberta, from Cold Lake-Fort McMurray-High Level northeast to Fort Chipewyan. The remainder of the province generally recorded much above to above normal precipitation (Figure 1). October precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2.
 

Fall Precipitation (September 1 to November 1, 2006)

Much below to below normal precipitation was recorded in most of the northern one-third of the province, the Medicine Hat-Brooks-Lethbridge area, Drumheller and in most mountain and foothill regions south of Jasper. Generally much above to above normal precipitation was recorded in the plains area of Central Alberta and the Cypress Hills (Figure 3). Fall precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 4.
 

Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook

Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on November 1, 2006 for the November 2006 through January 2007 period is for above normal precipitation and below normal temperatures throughout Alberta. 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 October 19, 2006 for November 2006 through to the end of January 2007 is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for southern Alberta. The NOAA reported on October 5, 2006 that El Nino conditions are likely to continue into early 2007. NOAA's long-lead precipitation outlook is available from their website located at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/.


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