As of April 2025, Manitoba is experiencing a mix of drought conditions across the province, with some areas showing improvement due to recent precipitation, while others remain vulnerable due to long-term moisture deficits. The situation varies regionally, with southern Manitoba seeing some relief, but ongoing concerns persist for agricultural and water supply impacts.
Current Drought Conditions
According to the latest Canadian Drought Monitor update, drought conditions across Manitoba showed little overall change in April 2025, despite significant precipitation in many areas. Approximately 99% of Prairie agricultural lands, including those in Manitoba, remain impacted by abnormally dry (D0) or drought conditions (D1 to D2) as of the end of April2. At the end of March 2025, 32% of the Prairie Region, which includes Manitoba, was classified as abnormally dry (D0) or in moderate to severe drought (D1 to D2), with the same percentage of the region's agricultural landscape affected1.
In southern Manitoba, there have been improvements due to short-term precipitation events in April, with much of the province receiving over 150% of normal precipitation during the month2. This has led to a reduction in moderate (D1) and severe (D2) drought conditions, as well as the removal of extreme drought (D3) classifications in the south2. However, the monitor warns that southern Manitoba remains vulnerable to drought, and conditions will be closely monitored through the spring and summer2. In contrast, southwestern Manitoba saw an expansion of abnormally dry (D0) conditions and the emergence of a pocket of moderate drought (D1) due to limited precipitation earlier in the year, particularly around Melita to Killarney1. West-central Manitoba experienced slight improvements, with a reduction in abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) areas1.
Precipitation and Soil Moisture
Precipitation in April 2025 was generally above normal across Manitoba, providing some relief to drought-stressed areas2. However, multi-year precipitation deficits remain a concern, as very low snowpack was reported throughout much of Western Canada, including Manitoba2. Soil moisture at freeze-up in late 2024 was generally near normal to below normal for most Manitoba basins, except for portions of the Red River basin, which had above normal to well above normal soil moisture, and northwestern Manitoba, which had well below normal levels5. These soil moisture conditions suggest a potential for near normal to below normal spring runoff, though future weather patterns will play a significant role5.
Water Supply and Community Impacts
Specific communities in Manitoba, such as Morden in the Pembina Valley region, have been grappling with water shortages due to prolonged dry conditions. As of early 2024, Morden declared a moderate drought stage after a drier-than-normal winter, with Lake Minnewasta-the city's primary drinking water source-running about 1.5 meters lower than normal3. The city has increased its draw from the Pembina Valley Water Co-op to reduce strain on the lake and is urging residents and businesses to conserve water voluntarily3. Mayor Nancy Penner highlighted the growing frequency of extreme climate events, including severe drought in 2021 followed by flooding in 2022, and stressed the need for additional water infrastructure to support the city's growth and resilience3.
Long-Term Outlook and Government Response
The long-term precipitation outlook for April through June 2025 indicates equal chances of above normal, below normal, or near normal precipitation for most of Manitoba, with a slight chance of above normal precipitation in southwestern and southeastern areas5. However, there are higher chances of above normal temperatures during this period, which could exacerbate drought conditions if precipitation remains insufficient5. The Manitoba Drought Management Strategy provides a framework for managing drought impacts, focusing on science-based indicators, improved communication, and coordination to enhance preparedness and minimize environmental, social, and economic effects4.
In summary, while recent above-normal precipitation in April 2025 has brought some relief to southern Manitoba, reducing the severity of drought in certain areas, the province remains at risk due to long-term deficits and low snowpack across Western Canada. Communities like Morden face ongoing water supply challenges, and the agricultural sector continues to be impacted. Close monitoring and adaptive strategies will be critical as Manitoba navigates the spring and summer months.
Citations:
- https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/canadian-drought-monitor/current-drought-conditions
- https://www.syngenta.ca/market-news/map--april-brings-little-change-in-prairie-drought-conditions
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/morden-drought-water-plant-2023-1.7127337
- https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/water/drought_condition/index.html
- https://www.manitoba.ca/floodinfo/pdf/2025/march_2025_flood_outlook_report.pdf
- https://www.syngenta.ca/market-news/map--prairie-dryness--drought-little-changed-in-february
- https://www.syngenta.ca/market-news/map--western-canada-dryness--drought-expands-in-march
- https://thenarwhal.ca/manitoba-water-climate-plan/
- https://www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf/ym_2025_full_issue.pdf
- https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2025/aac-aafc/A27-39-2025-1-eng.pdf
- https://www.drought.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/Prairies%20High%20Plains%20Winter%202025.pdf
- https://www.gov.mb.ca/scap/climatechange/watershed/water-retention-and-runoff-management.html
- https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/farms-fight-unpredictable-spring-weather/
- https://www.producer.com/markets/prairie-soil-moisture-conditions-not-a-concern/
- https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/canadian-drought-monitor
- https://www.wsask.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-P-020-20240201-Preliminary-Runoff-Outlook-Report-1.pdf
- https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/print,index.html?item=67237&posted=2025-01-22
- http://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/canadian-drought-outlook
- https://www.gov.mb.ca/floodinfo/pdf/2025/february_2025_flood_outlook_report.pdf
- https://www.topcropmanager.com/drought-a-concern-for-ag-industry-in-western-canada/
Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share
No comments:
Post a Comment