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Moisture Update - May 21, 2025

Growing Season Precipitation Trends

Map 4: The growing season precipitation accumulations, from April through October, vary significantly across Alberta, with roughly half the province experiencing near-normal conditions, and the other half showing notable deviations from long-term norms.

The Central Region, the western half of the South Region, and the North West Region have near-normal (once in 3-years) to moderately high (once in 3 to 6-year highs) growing season precipitation accumulations relative to long-term normal (Map 4). Pockets of high (one in 6 to 12-year highs) to very high (once in 12 to 25-year highs) precipitation relative to normal are scattered through the western portion of this area.

Cypress County along with much of the County of Forty Mile, has moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year lows) to low (once in 6 to 12-year lows) growing season accumulations relative to normal.

The North East Region, from Edmonton to the Saskatchewan border, also has moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year lows) growing season accumulations relative to normal. Pockets through Beaver, Lamont, Thorhild, and Smoky Lake Counties have low (once in 6 to 12-year lows) growing season accumulations relative to normal.

The growing season accumulations relative to normal across the Peace Region, ranges from low (once in 6 to 12-year lows) to extremely low (once in 25 to 50-year lows). A few pockets across the M.D.s of Greenview, Big Lakes, and Smoky River have longer than once in 50-year growing season accumulations relative to normal. The exception is the northern Peace Region, in Mackenzie County, which has near-normal (once in 3-year) precipitation accumulations relative to normal.

About half of Alberta has experienced a reasonably typical growing season so far, in terms of precipitation.

Perspective

As spring moisture begins to accumulate, soil moisture reserves will improve. Winter is inherently the driest season, and its influence on soil moisture and agricultural productivity is minimal.

The months of May through July are pivotal. They contribute the bulk of moisture needed for crop germination, vegetative growth, and yield formation. What happens in these months will be the true determinant of the 2025 cropping season’s outcome.

Alberta is now entering its historically wetter period. There remains ample opportunity to improve moisture conditions, provided rainfall arrives in a timely and sufficient manner.

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