Ag Weather Forum

Dryness and Hot Weather Threaten Sask. Crops

Joel Burgio
By  Joel Burgio , DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist
Rainfall averaging only 40 to 60% of normal covers much of southwest and central Saskatchewan. Some places within the region are averaging less than 40% of normal. (Graphic courtesy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Southwest and central areas of Saskatchewan have seen below or well-below-normal rainfall during the past 60 days or longer. Rainfall averaging only 40 to 60% of normal covers much of the area and some places within the region are averaging less than 40% of normal. Crop stress has been reported, but stress is less than would normally be the case as temperatures have not been very high during this period. This may be changing in the very near future.

The forecast models have shown a building upper level ridge over the western United States that looks to extend northward into the southern Canadian Prairies crop belt for much of next week. This likely means a continued dry weather pattern and an increasingly hot period for the area.

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The area in question is outlined by the orange and red on the chart accompanying this blog. It is likely that the region will remain dry or mostly dry during the next five to seven days and it is possible that it would stay dry longer than that. We also note a turn to hot weather in the area. The hot weather begins during the weekend and continue for much of next week. High temperatures reach to 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) in a portion of the area as soon as Sunday. The readings may reach to 35 C (95 F) in some areas, possibly much of the area, during the middle and late part of next week.

The continuing dryness and the expected hot weather is likely to increase stress to crops grown in the area. This section produces durum and spring wheat. Major canola areas are on the north and east side of the hardest hit areas but should be affected as well, just to a slightly less extent.

Joel Burgio can be reached at joel.burgio@dtn.com

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