Moisture Update - June 19, 2025

Maps 1 & 2 : There were notable regional differences in precipitation between May 20 and June 18. More rain fell across much of the province in the last 30-days than received in the previous 30 days, providing much needed moisture to many (Map 1). The heaviest rainfall occurred along a line running from Brazeau and western Ponoka Counties to the northeast to the Rural Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Much of this area received at least 50 to 70 mm of rainfall over the past month, while some fields in this area received more than 70 mm of moisture. A few pockets of 50 to 70 mm of rainfall are scattered across the South, Central, and Peace Regions.

More modest rainfalls of 30 to 50 mm were received across much of the Central, North West, North East, and Peace Regions. The northern Peace Region, around Calgary, along the eastern portion of the province and across the South Region, received 10 to 30 mm. A few pockets in Mackenzie, Rocky View, Wheatland, and Cypress Counties received less than 10 mm of precipitation in the last 30 days.

Comparing recent precipitation levels to long-term normal across Alberta over the past 30 days reveals significant spatial variability (Map 2). Relative to normal, the last 30-day precipitation accumulations trended from near-normal (once in 3-years) for municipalities from Wetaskiwin County, north to the M.D. of Opportunity, and east to the R.M. of Wood Buffalo.

A few pockets in the western Peace Region, around Saddle Hills and Clear Hills Counties, the County of Northern Lights, and the M.D. of Peace had near normal precipitation, as did a few areas in the Central and South Regions. 

Much of the province shows moderately low (once in 3 to 6- year lows) precipitation accumulations relative to normal (Map 2). The foothills, including the western portion of the South and Central Regions, have 30-day precipitation accumulations relative to long-term normal from low (one in 6 to 12-year lows) to extremely low (once in 25 to 50-year lows), as do municipalities along the Saskatchewan border and in the northern Peace Region. The lowest 30-day precipitation accumulations relative to long-term normal are in Mackenzie County, Rocky View County, the M.D. of Bighorn, Foothills County, Cardston County, the M.D. of Pincher Creek, and Cypress County.

Maps 3 & 4: The growing season precipitation accumulations, received from April 1 through June 18, 2025, varied significantly across Alberta (Map 3). The eastern portion of Alberta and the central and north Peace Region, received the lowest precipitation, at less than 50 mm. Some areas have received less than 40 mm so far this growing season.

A few municipalities through the Central, North West, and North East Regions are experiencing near normal precipitation accumulations relative to long-term normal (Map 4).

The majority of the province has moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year lows) to very low (once in 12 to 25-year lows) growing season accumulations relative to normal. Pockets across the Peace Region, around Lloydminster, along the foothills, in Cardston County and in Cypress County have very low (once in 12 to 25-year lows) to extremely low (once in 25 to 50-year lows) growing season accumulations relative to normal. A pocket around Medicine Hat is reporting the lowest (driest, less than once in 50-year lows) growing season precipitation accumulations relative to normal.

Maps 5 & 6: Looking at the 365-day precipitation accumulations relative to normal (Map 5), more areas have trended to lower precipitation accumulations relative to long-term normal. Since the last update, more areas are reporting moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year) to low (once in 6 to 12-year) precipitation accumulations relative to normal. Most of Alberta is reporting 365-day precipitation accumulations of 70 to 90% relative to average (Map 6).

There are areas in each region experiencing very low (once in 12 to 25-year lows) 365-day precipitation accumulations relative to normal. Small pockets across the province have extremely low precipitation accumulations (once in 25 to 50- year lows) relative to the long-term normal. The 365-day precipitation accumulations in these areas are approximately 50 to 70% relative to average.

Conversely, only a few areas in the eastern portion of the Central Region and the western portion of the North West Region have near normal 365-day precipitation accumulations relative to long-term normal. This translates to precipitation accumulations between 90 to 110% of average.

Maps 7, 8 & 9: Soil moisture reserves, to a depth of 120 cm, relative to long-term normal across most of Alberta, are estimated to be moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year lows) to low (once in 6 to 12-year lows) (Map 7).

It is estimated that soil moisture reserves in some areas across the province are currently experiencing very low (once in 12 to 25-year lows) and extremely low (once in 25 to 50-year lows) levels relative to long-term normal. The lowest soil moisture reserves (less than once in 50-year lows), relative to long-term normal are in pockets around Grande Prairie, the northern Peace Region, and Lloydminster, as well as in Mountain View and Cardston Counties.

For much of the province, soil moisture reserves are estimated to be at less than 60 mm of plant available water to a depth of 120 cm (Map 8). The highest soil moisture is estimated to be along the foothills, into the North West Region. Soil moisture as plant available water is estimated to be greater than 100 mm across this area. The lowest soil moisture reserves are estimated to be along the eastern border and through the northern Peace Region, with plant available water reserves being estimated to be less than 40 mm to a depth of 120 cm.

Soils across most of Alberta are estimated to be 25 to 50 mm below normal, as of June 18, 2025 (Map 9). Soils moisture levels in the South Region, along the Highway 2 corridor, into the North West and North East Regions, as well as in the southern Peace, are estimated to be 50 to 75 mm below normal. Soil moisture reserves in the northern Peace are estimated to be more than 75 mm lower than normal.