With the 2025 planting season creeping closer, Prairie abnormal dryness and drought remained little changed for the third straight month in February.
The latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor shows 23% of Prairie agricultural lands were being impacted by abnormal dryness or some form of drought as of the end of last month. That is near 26% in January and 25% in December but down from more than one-third at the end of November.
Most of the Prairie region saw normal to above-normal precipitation in February, except for the eastern slopes of the Rockies, central Alberta and southern Manitoba. However, even with above normal February precipitation, the accumulation was minimal, with most areas receiving only 10–20 mm, “resulting in little impact on overall soil moisture or water deficits,” the monitor said.
Alberta continues to experience drought in the western portion of the province, with conditions ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought. February’s precipitation improved conditions in the northwest, but central and the western mountain regions saw growing moisture deficits, resulting in a slight expansion of drought conditions. Central Alberta saw a small expansion of abnormally dry conditions west of Edmonton. In addition, a severe drought pocket emerged in southwestern Alberta along the eastern slopes and foothills.
“Municipalities and farmers in the southwest are monitoring reservoir levels as low snowpack will result in below normal recharge,” the monitor said.
On the other hand, southeastern Alberta’s above-normal snowfall has improved soil moisture.
In Saskatchewan, southern areas improved due to early February snowfall. Abnormally dry conditions were removed around Swift Current and were reduced slightly across south central regions of the province. Major reservoirs are at or above normal levels, the monitor said. Central and northern Saskatchewan saw minimal drought changes, with a small dry pocket emerging near Prince Albert due to short-term precipitation deficits.
Manitoba experienced minor drought changes in February. Southwestern areas saw slight reductions in abnormally dry to moderate drought, while a pocket of moderate drought between Flin Flon and The Pas was removed due to improved snowpack and moisture levels. However, a new area of abnormal dryness emerged east of Selkirk in the province’s southeast.
