By Jaryn Vecchio

Summer 2022 seeing much wetter conditions than 2021, still dry in some areas

Jul 28, 2022 | 3:00 PM

This year’s summer has been much kinder to farmers in northern Saskatchewan communities than last year.

More specifically, much more rain fell throughout June and July than it did during 2021’s drought.

Around Prince Albert, there’s been around 116 mm of precipitation which is up from roughly 76 mm last year. Despite this, levels are much lower than the 30-year average measured between 1981 and 2010 where the area averaged around 145 mm during the two months.

Over the past eight years, only three summers have had drier starts than 2022: 2018, 2019, and 2021.

The northeast, more specifically around Melfort, has had the driest conditions this summer.

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Just under 108 mm of precipitation has fallen throughout June and July. This is well below the 30-year average which sits at 131 mm.

Similar to P.A., 2022’s summer has been one of the drier ones over the past eight years. Only 2021 and 2017 have had less rain during this roughly two-month stretch.

Farmers around North Battleford are actually experiencing some of the wetter summer conditions seen in several years.

Through June and July, there’s been nearly 167 mm of precipitation. This is the second most recorded over the last eight years with 2020 being the only year to have more.

The area has also received around 38 mm more than normal when comparing the 30-year average between 1981 and 2010.

June vs July

Precipitation levels in the three communities are different, however, they each do share one similarity.

June was much wetter than July, averaging well above the monthly average while July was the exact opposite.

“It’s still below normal for the month of July and kind of has been since 2016,” said Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Since the weather is truly unpredictable, it’s hard to pinpoint why June and July’s conditions are so different.

Hasell explained one reason may be the start each month has.

“If you get a little bit of precipitation at some point it helps with future precipitation… that local moisture is available to feed the next storms that come by.”

Different for Everyone

While it’s easy to look at North Battleford’s numbers and believe farmers are getting the amount of rain needed, that’s not always the case.

Summer storms tend to be smaller in size and just because rain falls in an area doesn’t mean everyone got the same amount.

“One farmer’s field could get a lot, the next-door neighbour which is a few miles away might not get very much,” added Hasell.

She also explained the numbers may not be 100 per cent accurate because of this. A storm can easily be at its most powerful away from a recording station and vice-versa which could sway numbers a bit.

Hasell also noted this potential discrepancy is also why she has a hard time comparing months for large areas as not everyone will experience the same thing.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsnow