National Overview

Through July, most of Canada recorded below- to well below-average precipitation driving both the spread and intensification of drought across the country. In British Columbia, persistent rainfall deficits and dwindling stream flows exacerbated dry conditions. The northern and central Prairies saw exceptionally low precipitation, rapidly deepening drought in those regions. Meanwhile, southern and eastern Ontario received hot, dry conditions that expanded existing dry and drought areas. Atlantic Canada’s July rainfall deficits resulted in the expansion and increased severity of drought. Only Southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan saw significant improvement with well above-normal precipitation which began to replenish soil moisture and improve surface water supplies, delivering much-needed respite from the drought conditions.

At the end of the month, 71% of the country was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or Moderate to Extreme Drought (D1 to D3), including 71% of the country's agricultural landscape.

Regional Overview

Altantic Canada received below-normal precipitation with large portions of Nova Scotia receiving below 40% of normal monthly precipitation. Large portions of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island received less than 60% of monthly normal precipitation. The Atlantic Region experienced normal to slightly above-normal temperatures.

 Central Canada. Drought continued to affect large portions of the Prairies in July, with the Peace River region, areas north of the Highway 16 corridor in Alberta and Western Saskatchewan, north-central Saskatchewan, and much of central and northern Manitoba among the driest regions.

British Columbia received below-normal precipitation and generally seasonal temperatures. Precipitation deficits continued across most regions, except for southeastern regions and parts of the Central Coast. Precipitation deficits deepened, resulting in worsening drought across Vancouver Island, the southern and central Interior, and segments of the Peace region.

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According to PlantMaps.com , 7 communities are classified as Extreme Drought, one level below the highest classification of Exceptional Drought.

In Saskatchewan, they are: Denare Beach, Creighton, Hudson Bay and Maple Creek.

Manitoba: Sawn River and Flin Flon

Alberta: Crowsnest Pass