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.

August 2024 Drought Assessment

National Overview

August was characterized by both above- and below-normal precipitation: the remnants of Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Ernesto passed through Central and Atlantic regions of the country in addition to multiple storm systems affecting southern B.C. and the Prairies. However, significantly dry conditions persisted across northern parts of the Prairie region, stretching across Ontario and Quebec and westward into the Northwest Territories. Parts of Ontario and Quebec reported localized flooding while northern Saskatchewan continued to see wildfire activity affect local communities. Overall drought changes this month reflected these impacts as southern Ontario and Quebec remained drought-free while drought grew across northern Saskatchewan towards Labrador. Extreme Drought (D3) also persisted across southern NWT and the Peace Region of B.C. and Alberta. Mean monthly temperatures were reported at near normal across much of the country, with parts of southern B.C. and northern Canada seeing temperatures more than 3 degrees warmer than normal.

At the end of the month, 70% of the country was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Extreme Drought (D1 to D3), including 52% of the country’s agricultural landscape.

Pacific Region (BC)

In August, British Columbia experienced an overall improvement in drought conditions, with southern British Columbia experiencing the majority of improvement. The Lower Mainland, Cariboo, Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions recorded more than 150% of normal precipitation, with some areas receiving more than double their normal August precipitation amounts. In contrast, northern British Columbia received below-normal precipitation this month, with most areas recording less than 60% of normal precipitation. Mean monthly temperatures across the mainland were near normal, except in the Cariboo region, where temperatures were more than 3 degrees above normal.

Southern and central British Columbia experienced improved conditions this month with a 1 to 2 class improvement in drought classifications. Southern Vancouver Island, the South Coast and the Lower Mainland saw short-term dryness alleviated due to significant monthly precipitation, allowing for Abnormally Dry (D0) to Moderate Drought (D1) conditions to be removed. This continued into the Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions where Moderate Drought (D1) was reduced and a pocket of Severe Drought (D2) around Cranbrook was removed. Two pockets of Severe Drought (D2) in central B.C. were also removed, one south of Williams Lake and the other south of Bella Coola. Although significant drought conditions persisted across parts of the Nechako Plateau in central B.C., recent precipitation around Prince George was enough to alleviate Extreme (D3) and Severe Drought (D2). However, persistent precipitation will still be needed to fully alleviate drought conditions in the area. Additionally, significant drought conditions persisted across the Peace Region in northeastern B.C. as Extreme Drought (D3) remained this month.

At the end of the month, 86% of the Pacific Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Extreme Drought (D1 to D3), including 91% of the region’s agricultural landscape.

Prairie Region (AB, SK, MB)

Precipitation varied significantly between western and southern parts of the Prairies compared to the northern Prairie region this month: much of southern and western Alberta as well as southeastern Saskatchewan received more than 150% of normal August precipitation while southwestern and northern Saskatchewan as well as parts of northern Alberta saw less than 40% of normal monthly precipitation. This allowed for improvement to drought conditions across much of Alberta while northern Saskatchewan and into Manitoba saw an expansion of Moderate (D1) to Severe Drought (D2) this month. Southern Saskatchewan also saw the expansion of Moderate Drought (D1) and the creation of two Severe Drought (D2) pockets due to the below-normal precipitation this summer. Mean-monthly temperatures were stable this month as much of the region reported near- to slightly above-normal temperatures; only a small corner of southern Manitoba saw slightly below-normal temperatures in August.

Conditions across Alberta in August varied from significant precipitation along the western edge of the province to less than 40% of normal precipitation in northern regions. The significant short-term precipitation helped to alleviate growing concerns in the south where areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) began to grow in July. However, despite the rainfall in August, more precipitation is still needed to fully alleviate long-term concerns as the Oldman River and St. Mary Reservoirs continued to report water levels below normal at the end of the month. Overall drought conditions improved in southern parts of the province with the removal of a Moderate Drought (D1) pocket northwest of Medicine Hat and a reduction to Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions throughout the area. Looking further north, central Alberta also experienced improvement to drought as Severe (D2) and Extreme Drought (D3) was reduced around Edmonton and Moderate Drought (D1) was removed across the Rockies. Severe Drought (D2) remained east of Edmonton but shifted slightly northward as a result of growing short-term deficits near Cold Lake. Conditions also improved in the Peace Region of Alberta as Exceptional Drought (D4) was removed and all other drought classifications were reduced east of Grande Prairie.

Saskatchewan experienced varied precipitation this month, with a swath of southwestern Saskatchewan and northern Saskatchewan reporting less than 40% of normal precipitation and the southeastern corner seeing more than 150% of normal monthly precipitation. Limited precipitation, lower streamflows and water levels, and depleting surface soil moisture contributed to the expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) to Severe Drought (D2) conditions across most of the province. In southern Saskatchewan, drought changes varied: southwestern regions saw worsening drought conditions while southeastern regions experienced improvement to drought. This improvement was minor but allowed for Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) areas to be pulled back slightly due to above-normal monthly precipitation. In contrast, southwestern Saskatchewan saw the expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) to Moderate Drought (D1) conditions as well as the addition of Severe Drought (D2) around Swift Current and along the U.S.-Canada border due to very low surface soil moisture and extremely low precipitation in the past 2 months. Despite a wet spring, central Saskatchewan also saw an expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions as a result of the significantly dry summer period, except for an area south of North Battleford due to near-normal precipitation over the past 3 months. Northern Saskatchewan also experienced worsening drought this month due to limited precipitation, significantly low streamflows and ongoing wildfire concerns. Given these conditions, areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) to Moderate Drought (D1) expanded across northern Saskatchewan in addition to two pockets of Severe Drought (D2) forming northeast of Buffalo Narrows and south of Reindeer Lake.

Similar to the other two Prairie provinces, Manitoba saw variable precipitation in August: southern parts of the province received near-normal precipitation while northwestern Manitoba received less than 40% of normal precipitation and northeastern Manitoba saw more than 150% of normal monthly rainfall. Mean monthly temperatures were cooler in southwestern Manitoba, recording temperatures up to 2 degrees below normal, while northern Manitoba recorded temperatures closer to normal. Southern Manitoba saw only minor adjustments to drought this month as a small pocket of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions emerged around Brandon but the remainder of the area remained drought-free. Northern Manitoba, however, saw worsening drought conditions due to low streamflows and growing short-term precipitation deficits. This led to the expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions and the addition of Moderate (D1) to Severe Drought (D2) near Flin Flon and The Pas.

At the end of the month, 72% of the Prairie Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Extreme Drought (D1 to D3), including 63% of the region’s agricultural landscape.

Central Region (ON, QC)

Southern Ontario and Quebec continued to experience wetter than normal conditions in August, a trend that has persisted for nearly three straight months. The remnants of Hurricane Debby brought more than 200% of normal precipitation to localised areas in southern Ontario and southern Quebec leading to saturated soils and significant flooding, particularly across the Greater Toronto Area. In Quebec, Montreal recorded its wettest day on record on August 10th with this significant system bringing in more than 150 mm of precipitation. Conversely, northwestern Ontario and northern Quebec recorded less than 115% of normal precipitation, with a stretch along Hudson Bay reporting less than 60% of normal monthly precipitation. Mean monthly temperatures were cooler in southern Ontario and Quebec and closer to normal across the rest of the Central Region.

Southern Ontario and southern Quebec saw above-normal precipitation that led to saturated soils and flooding in localised areas. Reported impacts included the declaration of a state of emergency Chelsea, Quebec, due to flooding and municipalities in southeastern Ontario having difficulties managing overfilled reservoirs. These impacts ensured that southern Ontario and much of southern Quebec remained drought-free. Across southeast Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions remained relatively unchanged, with only a small improvement to Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions north of Quebec City. In contrast, the drought picture worsened across northern Quebec and Ontario this month with a large expansion of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions and the addition of several pockets of Moderate Drought (D1) with these areas seeing less than 50% of normal precipitation in the last 2 to 3 months.

At the end of the month, 60% of the Central Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate Drought (D1), including 10% of the region’s agricultural landscape.

Atlantic Region (NS, NL, NB, PEI)

As with much of the country, precipitation in August was variable across the Atlantic region: New Brunswick and parts of Newfoundland reported between 85% and 150% of normal precipitation as remnants of Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Ernesto brought precipitation to the region. However, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island (PEI), and southern parts of Newfoundland as well as most of Labrador, recorded less than 85% of normal precipitation, with pockets of western PEI and southern Newfoundland recording less than 40% of normal precipitation. PEI faced drier-than-normal conditions, with Summerside receiving 22% of normal August precipitation, reporting their 5th driest August on record. Average monthly temperatures across Atlantic Canada were near normal, except for Labrador’s northeast coast which recorded temperatures more than 3 degrees warmer than normal. The month began with warm, humid weather across the Maritimes that broke daily temperature records, but by month’s end, a cool airmass brought frost advisories to northern New Brunswick and set new minimum temperature records.

As remnants of Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Ernesto brought precipitation to the region this month, Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions were reduced across southern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. However, pockets of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions emerged in northeastern Nova Scotia and western PEI due to slight precipitation deficits. Additionally, much of Newfoundland saw Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions expand and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions emerge. Growing precipitation deficits and low streamflow levels across western Labrador also led to the emergence of Moderate Drought (D1) conditions across western parts of the province.

At the end of the month, 71% of the Atlantic Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate Drought (D1), including 44% of the region’s agricultural landscape.

Northern Region (YK, NWT)

Temperatures across the Northern Region were warmer than normal in August, with most of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon recording temperatures 2 to 4 degrees above normal. A prolonged heat wave in early August led to several communities in the Northwest Territories setting new August and all-time temperature records. Precipitation was generally below normal, with southwestern parts of the Northwest Territories and southeastern Yukon reporting the driest conditions this month. Ongoing high temperatures and growing precipitation deficits continued to feed wildfires in the Northern Region.

Drought changes were varied across the region this month, with drought conditions worsening across eastern areas of the Northwest Territories due to growing precipitation deficits and declining water levels in major rivers, while drought conditions across the Yukon slightly improved. Yellowknife and surrounding communities received less than 125 mm in the last 9 months, putting them on track to record their driest year on record. Water levels continue to be extremely low across Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake. In the Yukon, overall drought conditions slightly improved with near-normal short-term precipitation as well as improved streamflows and water levels.

At the end of the month, 72% of the Northern Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Extreme Drought (D1 to D3).

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.