Rains Can Stop Until After Harvest

Rains Can Stop Until After Harvest

Rains fell over southern Manitoba last week and amounts generally ranged from a half to two inches but some areas reported more (three to five inches in parts of southwest, central and eastern regions). Hail was reported again in the Brunkild area. In eastern Saskatchewan, rainfall was quite general and a half to ¾ of an inch was common with up to two inches reported at Humboldt. In northern Saskatchewan, trace amounts to ¾ of an inch were reported. Soil moisture levels are nearing field capacity in much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and there are reports of swathing being delayed because of wet field conditions (ruts being made). Any further rain will likely interfere with swathing which is a week to two weeks from becoming general in most areas. In Alberta, spotty rain fell in central and northern areas with amounts up to half an inch reported. Parts of central and northeastern Alberta received no rainfall and so dry conditions in those areas persist.

Maps of current moisture conditions in western Canada from PFRA are available at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay09_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs09_e.htm
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at:
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/forecasting/data/precipmaps/weekly.pdf