Another rainfall warning is in effect for southern Alberta. Many parts of southern Alberta saw upwards of 100 mm of rainfall last week alone. All this moisture has led the Counties of Lethbridge, Cardston, Warner, Coaldale, Fort Macleod, Town of Pincher Creek and the Blood Reserve to declare a state of emergency. Throughout the Prairies, millions of acres remain unseeded and may not be seeded at all this year. The Canadian Wheat Board is expecting between 8.25 and 12.5 million acres to remain unseeded across the Prairies. 

(Photos courtesy of SARA, Lethbridge, Alberta)


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90 Day Percent of Average Precipitation (April 5- July 3 2010)

While all the attention has been on Southern Alberta and the high levels of precipitation, much of the Peace Region is facing below average precipitation and may be in for another year of drought conditions. Significant precipitation is needed throughout the Peace to prevent crop stress
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/pr_e.htm

Based on the July 15 Crop Report (AARD) the sub-surface moisture conditions in the Peace region are ranked with 70% in poor condition, 28% in fair and only 2% in good condition.

 AgriRecovery Response
Crop producers in Southern and Central Alberta will receive additional support through the AgriRecovery response to deal with excess moisture. (For more information visit http://alberta.ca/acn/201007/28791CC87D3EF-F084-B699-0F037FE26EAB4DC7.html )

Approximately 370,000 acres of land remain unseeded in Alberta, with more than one million acres of land flooded out.

Drought Conditions
The MD of Fairview, MD of Clear Hills along with Birch Hills County and recently the County of Grande Prairie have declared themselves agriculture disaster zones due to extreme drought stress, Aug 10 2010.
Northern Sunrise County, MD of Smoky River and MD of Greenview have also declared an agricultural disaster. Aug 17 2010

Total Rainfall for April-Sept 2010

Weather and Climate Information Link