Welcome, La Nina

La Nina is here, and cold weather will continue across the prairies this week, and there will be snow.   The snowfall pattern will be similar to what we've had all season. Areas that have had snow will get more.  And, dry areas, such as southern Alberta, will remain starved for moisture, as snow amounts over the next seven days will total only 10 cm at most.

Here's an update on where we stand in terms of soil moisture as February begins.    This first map shows where soil moisture levels stand relative to normal.   Areas shaded in blue show higher or much higher than average soil moisture levels.  This includes southern Alberta east of highway 2, a portion of north-central Alberta, and in the Souris/Assiniboine/Red watersheds of southern Manitoba.   Areas in green show soil moisture levels near normal.  Yellow, orange and red regions are those where there is a moisture deficit.