Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Warm and dry conditions across much of the Prairies in May caused drought conditions to worsen, especially in Alberta, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As of May 31, an estimated 79 per cent of the Prairie region was classified as abnormally dry (D0) or in moderate […] Read more
Drought expands across Canadian Prairies
Dry conditions push eastward in Manitoba
Prairie Forecast: Switch in pattern but summer sticking around
Forecast issued June 7, covering June 7-14
Reading Time: 3 minutes The weather models are doing a good job handling all the heat and humidity that has been driving thunderstorms and breaking temperature records across the eastern half of the Prairies over the last week. To the west it has been a little cooler and drier, with not as much instability to deal with, but nonetheless, […] Read more
Prairie Forecast Update: Forecast pretty much on track
Update issued June 4, covering June 4-7, 2023
Reading Time: < 1 minute The heat and humidity moved into a large portion of the Canadian Prairies late last week and over the weekend as the previous general forecast played out pretty close to what the weather models predicted. There is not much change in the forecast for the next three days. The heat and humidity will continue across […] Read more
Prairie Forecast Update: Forecast on track
Forecast issued May 14, 2023, covering the half-week stretch from May 14 to 17, 2023
Reading Time: < 1 minute The weather models have been remarkably accurate for this time of the year. The big weather picture remains the same. There is a large, persistent ridge of high pressure over far Western Canada with an equally persistent trough of low pressure over Eastern Canada. This means western regions will continue to see sunny, dry and […] Read more
Prairie cash wheat: Bids rise ahead of U.S. WASDE report
Warmer weather should help advance spring seeding
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Bids for red spring wheat in Western Canada went up, while durum prices declined for the week ended Thursday as traders and analysts await the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA released its monthly world agricultural supply/demand estimates (WASDE) report on Friday, including the first production estimates for new […] Read more
Rain, drought highlight different growing areas
Eastern Prairies to see improved rains
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Depending on which region you’re in, you could be stuck in a severe drought or facing rains that will help alleviate that dryness or push back when fields should be dry enough to begin spring planting. That’s the assessment from Drew Lerner, president and senior agricultural meteorologist at World Weather Inc. at Overland […] Read more
Prairie soil moisture picture growing clearer
Alberta driest; Saskatchewan variable; Manitoba mostly OK
Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s a variable soil moisture picture on the Prairies as seeding season draws nearer. The east has enough moisture — and in some cases too much. And it gets progressively drier toward the west, with portions of Alberta nearing critical condition, according to one weather watcher. Bruce Burnett, weather and markets director for the MarketsFarm […] Read more
No big changes in current weather patterns
Potential for some precipitation in early April
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — With spring officially underway, don’t expect a lot of major changes in the current weather patterns across the Canadian Prairies and the U.S. northern Plains, according to Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. at Overland Park, Kansas. “For the rest of March, it’s status quo, it will stay cold. We’re not going to […] Read more
Cold, snowy start seen to Prairies’ winter
Reading Time: 1 minute MarketsFarm — Although the official calendar start to winter isn’t until Dec. 21, conditions on the Canadian Prairies are now winter-like, according to Weatherlogics chief scientist Scott Kehler. “For the month of November, it looks like we’re off to a cold start for most of the Prairies. The western Prairies… had quite a significant winter […] Read more
Prairies’ high-pressure ridge should give way by mid-month
Brisk harvest pace expected meanwhile
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — While there’s not one specific cause of the hot September the Canadian Prairies has generally been having so far, Weatherlogics chief scientist Scott Kehler notes one particular shorter-term factor. “There is a fairly strong upper-level ridge of high pressure across the Prairies right now,” he explained, adding it should dissipate by mid-month. The […] Read more
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