(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Brady Bateman

Not enough rain

Recent rain helpful, more moisture needed

Jun 11, 2019 | 1:58 PM

Although Prince Albert and area received some healthy doses of rain in recent days, there is still much more needed to catch up to the average for this time of the year.

Following several days of rain, paNOW spoke with Meteorologist with Environment Canada Terri Lang, who said although the moisture has been good for the area, there is still a long way to go.

“Because there has been a deficit for so long, it’s going to take a while to catch that up. So far in June there has only been 18 mm of rain, and the 30-year average is 68 mm, so the area isn’t even halfway there, although you’re not halfway done the month,” Lang said.

“You look at a place like La Ronge. So far, they have only had 14 mm and the average there is 70 mm, so they are running quite a deficit as well.”

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Lang noted although there have been several days with rain in recent weeks in the Prince Albert area, it’s not the type of rain which allows for an accumulation of moisture to permeate the now extremely dry soil and surrounding forested areas which are in desperate need.

“It’s going to take a lot of rain to get caught up. That would be days of soaking rain or at least a few episodes of real soaking rain, what we’re getting now is just kind of a few blips of showers,” Lang said.

“It looks like there is another weather pattern coming through towards the end of the week and into the weekend so hopefully that will bring more rain, but again it doesn’t look like that will be a widespread soaking type.”

Lang added a recent map released by Natural Resources Canada showing fire danger throughout the province showed Prince Albert in the moderate risk area, meaning residents should still be mindful while enjoying the outdoors.

“Today’s map shows that all of southern Saskatchewan is in extreme danger and through central portions its more of a moderate danger, much farther north they are in a lower danger zone. So still in the danger zone because even with some rain it still takes a lot more for the soil to catch up and for the rain to make a real difference to fire danger.”

Lang did however note that it is fortunate to be in a pattern of weather featuring only mild temperatures and a lack of rain, rather than extremely hot temperatures. She advised all residents spending time outdoors to take extra precautions with things like campfires and open flames.

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Brady.bateman@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TheDigitalBirdy