Current drought conditions - agriculture.canada.ca

Description of the image above.

The map above shows the extent and severity of drought conditions across Canada. The scale used runs from D0 Abnormally dry to D4 Exceptional drought.

Download a high resolution map and narrative (PDF Version, 773 KB) suitable for printing.

March 2025 Drought Assessment

National Overview

Canada experienced a variety of weather patterns and storm events in March, resulting in moderate drought improvements for some areas, while others continued to face worsening conditions due to insufficient winter and early spring precipitation. British Columbia experienced the most significant improvement, with above-average precipitation for the second consecutive month across much of the province. Conversely, the eastern Prairies saw slight deterioration as precipitation deficits persisted this month. Most of country experienced above-normal temperatures except for northern portions of the Prairie region, including a large area straddling the central Saskatchewan-Manitoba border where temperatures were below normal. As spring arrived, three regions of Canada remained in Severe Drought (D2): the largest of these is in the southern Northwest Territories, extending into northern British Columbia and Alberta. The other two Severe Drought (D2) areas are the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Alberta and the Cariboo region in central British Columbia.

At the end of the month, 35% of the country was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Severe Drought (D1 to D2), including 37% of the country's agricultural landscape.

Pacific Region (BC)

Much of British Columbia experienced above-average precipitation in March which improved snowpack, streamflow and moisture conditions. Despite widespread precipitation, some regions of the province still received below-normal precipitation, including northern Vancouver Island, the central coast, western Cariboo region, the Peace region, southernmost parts of the Thompson-Okanagan region, and the east Kootenays. Long-term precipitation deficits remain a concern in the Peace, Stikine, Cariboo, and Central Coast regions. By the end of March, much of British Columbia reported near- to above-normal snowpack including Vancouver Island, the southern coast, the upper and lower Fraser regions, the southern Interior, southeast, and east-central areas. However, the central coast and western Cariboo had significantly below-average snowpack. Streamflow was generally normal or above normal across the province, though northern areas reported below-normal flows. March temperatures were above average, with some parts of the Cariboo, Peace, and Kootenay regions exceeding 3°C above normal.

The Lower Mainland, southern Interior, and much of the Thompson-Okanagan region received significant precipitation. Heavy precipitation over the past two months alleviated drought conditions across much of southern British Columbia, leading to the removal of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions and Moderate Drought (D1) across parts of Vancouver Island, the South Coast, Lower Mainland and the southernmost border areas of the Thompson-Okanagan region. Swaths of Moderate (D1) and Severe Drought (D2) were either reduced or removed in southeastern British Columbia from Lillooet to Kamloops. However, a stretch of Moderate Drought (D1) from Lillooet to Merritt remained due to long-term precipitation deficits, limited snowfall in valley areas and early snowmelt. Moderate (D1) to Severe Drought (D2) continued across northeastern British Columbia as March precipitation was reportedly drier than normal, with only a small reduction to Severe Drought (D2) this month.

At the end of the month, 61% of the Pacific Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Severe Drought (D1 to D2), including 68% of the region's agricultural landscape.

Prairie Region (AB, SK, MB)

March precipitation across the Prairie region varied with central Alberta seeing well above-normal precipitation because of numerous storm systems passing through, while the rest of the region received below-normal precipitation. Southern Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan received well below-normal precipitation, continuing a dry winter trend, especially in southwestern Manitoba. Temperatures varied across provinces with most of Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan experiencing warmer conditions while eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced predominantly cooler temperatures.

Despite good precipitation through parts of Alberta, drought conditions deteriorated across the eastern slopes and southern foothills this month. Severe Drought (D2) conditions expanded east of Banff and across the southern Rockies due to significant long-term deficits and concern over low snowpack, reduced streamflow and low runoff potential in the region. Low water levels also remained a concern for reservoirs in southern Alberta. East-central Alberta saw improvements in Abnormally Dry (D0) to Moderate Drought (D1) conditions as 25 to 45 mm more than normal precipitation fell this month. Changes to drought across northern Alberta were minimal in March, with only a slight expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions in parts of the Peace region.

Drought conditions in Saskatchewan worsened this month as the province experienced dry and, in many areas, warmer conditions. Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions expanded and Moderate Drought (D1) remained along the Saskatchewan-U.S. border primarily due to long-term moisture deficits. Over the past year, the southeastern corner of the province received 80 to 140 mm less precipitation than normal. While dry conditions have persisted for the past nine months, recent precipitation from a late-month storm did little to alleviate precipitation deficits in this area. Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions also expanded across northern Saskatchewan with the addition of a pocket of Moderate Drought (D1) due to significant short-term and ongoing long-term moisture deficits: Meadow Lake recorded just 58% of its average March precipitation, while Key Lake saw only 49%.

Limited precipitation fell across much of Manitoba this month, resulting in the expansion of drought conditions in the south. This was particularly the case in the southwest where Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions expanded and a pocket of Moderate Drought (D1) emerged. Prolonged dryness during the fall and winter periods resulted in Moderate Drought (D1) conditions expanding from Melita to Killarney as well as an Abnormally Dry (D0) pocket to emerge west of Winnipeg. In contrast, west-central Manitoba saw slight improvements, as Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions slightly reduced.

At the end of the month, 32% of the Prairie Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Severe Drought (D1 to D2), including 32% of the region's agricultural landscape.

Central Region (ON, QC)

The Central Region experienced normal to above normal March precipitation, with most areas of central Ontario receiving more than 150% of normal precipitation. In southern regions of the province precipitation was near normal with the exception of the Sarina and Windsor region being below normal. The majority of Quebec received near to above normal precipitation. Despite recent precipitation, exceptionally dry fall conditions continue to impact long-term deficits resulting in dry conditions.

Southern Ontario generally saw improvements in Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions. However, three pockets of D1 remained around Kitchener, Oshawa and Kingston. Northwestern Ontario saw a slight expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions and the addition of two pockets of Moderate Drought (D1), one around Island Opasquia Provincial Park/Island Lake along the Ontario-Manitoba border and the other around Kenora. Significant moisture, mainly from snowstorms, helped reduce Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions in areas east of Lake Superior and central Ontario, but D0 conditions persisted around Timmins. In southern Quebec, drought conditions remained relatively unchanged, with the notable exception of the removal of large D0 areas in the Gaspé region and the removal of a small area of D1 northwest of Montreal.

At the end of the month, 27% of the Central Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate Drought (D1), including 34% of the region's agricultural landscape.

Atlantic Region (NS, NB, PE, NL)

Most of the Atlantic Region received 85 to 150% of normal precipitation due to several storms. The western half of the Maritimes generally received more precipitation than the eastern half. Most of the southern and central portions of New Brunswick received well above normal precipitation with some areas of the province exceeding 150% of normal March precipitation, while eastern Nova Scotia saw much lower amounts of 40 to 85% of normal precipitation. Precipitation was average across most of Newfoundland and Labrador, with parts of eastern Labrador receiving the highest precipitation amounts. With the exception of western and northern Labrador, warmer than normal temperatures were observed across the Atlantic region.

New Brunswick experienced significant reductions in drought, with all three D1 pockets in the western half of the province around Campbellton, Plaster Rock, and the southwest being removed because of generally above normal precipitation in the past two months. Nova Scotia saw a slight expansion of Moderate Drought (D1) conditions towards southern areas. Most of Nova Scotia remained in Abnormally Dry (D0) or Moderate Drought (D1) conditions, except for the northwestern tip of Cape Breton. In Prince Edward Island, Moderate Drought (D1) conditions were removed. In Newfoundland, Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions were removed from the southwestern Avalon Peninsula, as result of above-normal rainfall this month. Labrador's drought conditions remained largely unchanged.

At the end of the month, 44% of the Atlantic Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate Drought (D1), including 68% of the region's agricultural landscape.

Northern Region (YK, NWT)

The Northern Region recorded warmer temperatures across the Yukon and cooler temperatures in most of the Northwest Territories. Southwestern Yukon experienced the most notable warmth, with temperatures exceeding normal by more than 3°C. Precipitation levels were generally 0 to 15 mm above normal, except in southern Yukon and parts of the Northwest Territories, where amounts were 5 to 10 mm below normal.

Drought conditions improved across the region, with Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions reduced in southwestern Yukon. Preliminary results from the Yukon's Snow Survey for March show that snowpack in most areas is ranging around normal with the Klondike River basin as the outlier with above normal snowpack. Additionally, major rivers show near or above normal baseflows, with the exception of the Porcupine River. Elsewhere in the Yukon drought conditions remained largely unchanged, with swaths of Abnormally Dry (D0) and a pocket of Moderate Drought (D1) persisting in areas with continued long term precipitation deficits. In the Northwest Territories large portions of Severe Drought (D2) reduced in central areas. However, drought conditions elsewhere in the Northwest Territories remained largely unchanged as long-term deficits remain high throughout much of the region and winter water levels and flow rates remain low across most of the territory.

At the end of the month, 32% of the Northern Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Severe Drought (D1 to D2).

Key Drought Indicators

These are a few of the products that were converged to create this assessment. They may provide additional understanding of drought conditions.