September 2008 Precipitation

Above to much above normal precipitation was recorded in the High Level-Peace River-Slave Lake area, and in the Jasper- Grande Cache area. Most of the remainder of Northwestern Alberta recorded below normal to normal precipitation. Similarily, normal to much above normal precipitation was generally recorded along the mountains and foothills and into southernmost plains areas. The remainder of the province recorded much below normal to below normal precipitation and this includes the central mountain and foothills and portions of the upper reaches of the the southern mountainous areas. (Figure 1). September precipitation totals are illustrated in Figure 2.

Summer Precipitation (May 1, 2008 to August 31, 2008)

Precipitation in central and northern Alberta varied between much below normal and normal with the exception of the northwestern corner of Alberta, which recorded above to much above normal precipitation. Southern Alberta recorded above to much above normal precipitation except for 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 (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 .

Water Year Precipitation (November 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008)

Most of the province recorded below normal to normal precipitation. Above normal precipitation was recorded in two small areas, northwest of Calgary and in the southeast corner of the province. Pockets of much below normal precipitation were recorded northwest of Grande Prairie, northwest of Banff, and in the Whitecourt-Barrhead, Camrose, Coronation-Hanna, and Fort Chipewyan areas. Mountain precipitation was generally normal in the province south of Banff, below normal to normal between Banff and Jasper, and below normal in the Jasper-Grande Cache area (Figure 9). Precipitation totals for the water year November 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008 are illustrated in Figure 10.

 

Long-Lead Precipitation Outlook

Environment Canada's long-lead forecast for Alberta issued on October 1, 2008 for the October through December 2008 period is for above normal precipitation in a band from High Level to Fort McMurray and the southern mountain and foothill areas, below normal precipitation along the southern Saskatchewan border, and normal precipitation for the rest of the province. Below normal temperatures are expected for Alberta for the next three months. The long range forecast for December 2008 to February 2009 issued on Sepember 1, 2008 is for above normal precipitation in northerm Alberta, below normal precipitation in the southwest corner of Alberta and normal precipitation in the rest of 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 September 18, 2008 for October through to the end of December 2008 is for equal chances of below normal, normal, or above normal precipitation and above normal temperatures for southern Alberta. For the January through March 2009 period there is an equal chance of below normal, normal, or above normal precipitation for southern Alberta, and the same probability is forecast for temperatures for the southern mountains of Alberta, however normal temperatures are forecast for the southern plains of Alberta. On September 18, 2008 NOAA reports that ENSO neutral conditions (no El Nino or La Nina) are in place and will continue well into next year. 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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