Moisture Update - March 20, 2025

Maps 1 & 2: The area from Lloydminster southwest toward Calgary and southeast toward Medicine Hat, has received less than 5 mm of precipitation since February 18, 2025 (Map 1). Accumulations between 5 and 15 mm of precipitation were reported across the rest of the agricultural regions in the province.

February is typically the driest month of the year. Relative to normal, the last 30-day precipitation accumulations trended drier through much of the agricultural areas (Map 2). Most reported at least moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year lows) or low (once in 6 to 12-year lows) precipitation accumulations. In the area stretching from Wheatland County, through Special Areas 2 and 4, and the M.D. of Provost to the County of Vermillion River, reported very low (once in 12 to 25 years) precipitation accumulations. Only the North West Region, and a few small areas across the Peace Region, reported near normal (once in 3 year) precipitation accumulations.

Maps 3 & 4: Precipitation accumulations for the winter, or cold season, from November through March, are near normal across much of the eastern half of the province, north and west of Edmonton, and north into the Peace Region. A large area running through the eastern half of the South and Central Region and south of Edmonton, as well as an area around Peace River and High Level (Map 3), continue to report moderately low (once in 3 to 6-year lows), and low (once in 6 to 12-year lows) cold season moisture accumulations, relative to normal.

The snowpack (Map 4) to date is moderately low (one in 3 to 6 years) for much of the agricultural regions. Only the South, eastern half of the Central, and southern Peace Regions are reporting near normal (one in 3 years) snowpack conditions.

Maps 5 & 6: Looking back over the past 365 days, precipitation accumulations relative to normal (Map 5) have not changed since the last report. A large portion of the agricultural areas continue to report moderately low (once in 3 to 6 years) to low (once in 6 to 12 years) precipitation accumulations, relative to normal. This includes areas through Cardston County and the M.D. of Pincher Creek in the South Region, the west half of the Central Region, the North West Region, parts of the North East Region, and the southwest and northern parts of the Peace Region. These areas are reporting a 365-day precipitation accumulation of 70 to 90%, relative to average (Map 6).

Once in 12 to 25-year lows continue to persist in and around Red Deer and Mountain View Counties. An area southwest of Red Deer, is reporting a once in 25 to 50-year lows in precipitation accumulations, relative to the long term normal. This area is reporting 365-day precipitation accumulations of 50 to 70% relative to average.

Conversely, the North East Region, eastern half of the Central Region, and most of the South Region are reporting near normal (once in 3 years) to moderately higher than normal (once in 3 to 6 years) precipitation accumulations, relative to long term normal. Here, areas are reporting precipitation accumulations of 90 to 130% of normal (average), which is positive news for those farming in these areas.