'Substantial' spring storm welcome due to ongoing drought, with ...

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As southeastern Alberta is in a significant drought, this type of rainfall is going to be helpful, Environment Canada says.

Published May 06, 2024  •  Last updated 15 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

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Precipitation this week will bring welcome relief as the province struggles with drought conditions, a weather expert says, as rainfall warnings were issued for the eastern half of southern Alberta, including Rocky View County, Medicine Hat, and the Red Deer area.

Alysa Pederson, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Alberta with Environment Climate Change Canada, said a “pretty substantial” spring storm is developing right now in southern Alberta, with a few showers that have already come through central and northern Alberta.

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“So, by later tonight, rainfall will begin; it will last all day Tuesday, pretty much right through Wednesday, bringing about 50 to 70 mm to central and south-eastern Alberta,” Pederson said.

The areas that will receive the heaviest rainfall are east of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, east of Red Deer including Stettler, Hanna, Coronation, Brooks, and Medicine Hat. “That’s kind of the core of where that heaviest condition will be. And then, of course, it will be as far west as Lethbridge and Strathmore.”

The city of Calgary is probably looking at 20 to 30 mm of rainfall, and Chestermere is likely to see 40 to 50 mm.

“We’re still expecting it to be a couple of days of rain, really developing tonight and lasting through Tuesday and easing on Wednesday.

“Rainfall warnings are issued in the spring and summer when there is 50 mm of precipitation expected in 24 hours and over 75 mm or more in 48 hours. So, that 75 mm in 48 hours was actually close to in a couple of regions like Brooks, Medicine Hat.”

Pederson said there’s a big low-pressure system developed in the Rockies in Montana, and it’s sitting and spinning out in North Dakota and the Montana border, causing the rainfall. “And so what it’s doing is funnelling a whole bunch of precipitation and moisture in through southern Saskatchewan and into Alberta.”

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With ‘prolonged dry spell,’ farmers hopeful for more moisture

As southeastern Alberta is in a significant drought, this type of rainfall is going to be helpful, especially because it is over the course of two days, said Pederson.

“The ground should be able to absorb this, given the dry conditions — any precipitation like this is going to be welcome. The area that’s been most affected by this storm in the last year has only gotten between 150 and 200 mm of precipitation in an entire year. And if we get 70 mm, that’s a third of what they got in an entire year.”

The province is currently in Stage 4 out of 5 in its water shortage management response plan, and there are currently 51 water shortage advisories in place across Alberta. Snowpack measurements taken between late January and early February found that 31 of 33 were below average or much below average. In southern Alberta, storage levels at numerous reservoirs are well below normal.

Airdrie farmer Ian Chitwood, who is also an adjunct director with Alberta Canola, said the Calgary area has been cold and dry.

“We have had a few small rain events, but we haven’t had any really significant rainfall yet. The last we had was enough to slow us down to kind of keep us out of the field.”

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Chitwood said farmers are going to be “really happy” to see the rainfall come in this week.

“We are in extreme drought — the rivers are low, the water is low; there’s a lot of concern about soil moisture because it’s been depleted over the last couple of years where we’re in this El Niño cycle — we’re just in this prolonged dry spell,” Chitwood said.

“At this point, as much moisture as we can get, we are going to be happy with.

“Farmers around here, and especially in the south, are a little bit worried about starting up in the spring again.”

Drought and flood protection program

The Alberta government announced Monday a $125-million drought and flood protection program where municipalities and Indigenous communities across the province can receive assistance to adapt to severe weather.

“We are helping communities build the infrastructure they need to help protect people’s homes and keep businesses going during droughts or floods. These emergencies can devastate public infrastructure and private property, damage the environment, disrupt our economy, and put lives at risk. That’s why I encourage any and all communities to apply,” said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas in a written statement released Monday.

Budget 2024 allocated $25 million per year from 2024-25 through 2028-29 for the drought and flood protection program.

With files from Postmedia

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