During the week of July 17-23, 2023, the prairie average daily temperature was 1°C warmer than the climate normal average daily temperature for the same period. The coolest temperatures were observed across eastern Saskatchewan, western Manitoba, and the Peace River region. The warmest weekly average temperatures occurred across southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan (Fig. 1). 

Average prairie daily temperatures over the past 30 days (June 24 – July 23, 2023) have been 1°C above normal. Many locations in the Peace River region have reported 30-day average temperatures that were 4°C warmer than average, so it was no surprise that the warmest temperatures in the last 30 days were reported across most of the southern prairies and the Peace River region (Fig. 2).

Growing season (April 1 – July 23, 2023) temperatures continue to be warmer than normal by 1.7°C. For the growing season so far, the warmest temperatures have occurred across the southern regions of all three prairie provinces (Fig. 3).

Precipitation for the week of July 17-23, 2023 was minimal across most of the prairies; only the Parkland region had rainfall amounts that were greater than 20mm (Fig. 4).

In the last 30 days (June 24 to July 23), the average cumulative prairie precipitation was 35 mm, which is only 62% of the precipitation we would normally receive in the same period of the growing season. Cumulative rainfall in the past 30 days was greatest in the Edmonton  and Winnipeg regions and the lowest rainfall totals continue to be those recorded across most of Saskatchewan and southern Alberta (Fig. 5). 

Since April 1, conditions have generally been dry across the prairies, with some notable exceptions. Most of the prairie region has now received approximately 90% of total rainfall we would expect to receive based on long-term climate normals. Below normal precipitation has occurred across most of Saskatchewan and southern Alberta (Fig. 6). During the current growing season, the warmest and driest area of the prairies continues to be southern Alberta and the western half of Saskatchewan. 

The average daily temperature across the prairies was 0.5°C cooler than climate normals during the week of July 10 to July 16, 2023. However, specific locations remained warmer than normal, including Fort St. Jean, British Columbia, where it was 4°C warmer than normal; the warmest weekly average temperatures occurred across most of the Peace River region, southern Alberta, and southwestern Saskatchewan (Fig. 1). The coolest temperatures occurred across eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba with many locations having weekly average temperatures that were 2-4°C cooler than average.

Average temperatures over the past 30 days (June 17 – July 16, 2023) have been almost 1°C above normal; many locations in the Peace River region have reported 30 day average temperatures that were 3°C warmer than average. The warmest 30-day temperatures were reported across most of the southern prairies, particularly southern Manitoba (Fig. 2).

Precipitation during the week of July 10 to July 16, 2023 was minimal across most of the prairies (Fig. 3). Precipitation amounts ranged from 0.1mm at Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan to 34mm at Red Deer, Alberta. Average prairie precipitation (44 mm) for June 17-July 16, 2023) is 71% of normal. Unfortunately, much of the rain since July 10 has been accompanied by hail in some areas.

Cumulative rainfall for the past 30 days was greatest in the Edmonton region; the lowest rainfall amounts continue to be observed across most of Saskatchewan and southern Alberta (Fig. 4). Rain totals in the last 30 days ranged considerably from location to location. Mayerthorpe, Alberta had 131 mm in the last 30 days (167% of normal). In contrast, Taber, Alberta had only 6mm of rain (16% of normal) in the same period.

Since April 1, conditions across the prairies have generally been quite dry. Precipitation accumulation has been below normal across most of Saskatchewan and southern Alberta (Fig. 5). Most of the prairie region has had less than 88% of normal or expected precipitation so far in 2023. However, some areas have received more rainfall than normal, especially locations around Edmonton, Alberta.

During the week of July 3-9, 2023, the warmest weekly average temperatures occurred across most of the Peace River region, southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan (Fig. 1). The coolest temperatures during the same week occurred across the Parkland region of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The prairie average daily temperature was similar to that expected based on climate normals. In fact, a number of locations reported temperatures that were cooler than normal; in northeastern Saskatchewan, for example, some locations had weekly average temperatures that were 2°C cooler than normal.

Average temperatures over the past 30 days (June 10 – July 9, 2023) have been almost 2°C above normal; many locations in the Peace River region have reported 30 day average temperatures that were 3°C warmer than average. The warmest 30-day average temperatures were reported across most of the southern prairies, particularly southern Manitoba (Fig. 2).

Precipitation for the period of July 3-10, 2023 was minimal across most of the prairies (Fig. 3).

Cumulative rainfall for the past 30 days has been greatest in the Edmonton region (Fig. 4). The lowest rainfall amounts continue to be those reported across most of Saskatchewan and southern Alberta. Conditions continue to be dry across most of the prairies.

Prairie rain amounts for June 10-July 9 have been 72% of normal on average across the prairies. Most of Saskatchewan has had less than 40% of normal rainfall (Fig. 5). Southern Alberta and most of Manitoba have had rainfall amounts that are less 60% of normal (Fig. 5). 

During the week of June 26 – July 2, 2023, the average daily temperature was 3°C warmer than normal on the prairies. The weekly average temperature in Dawson Creek, British Columbia was 17.8 °C, a whopping 5°C warmer than normal. The warmest temperatures were observed across the southern prairies last week (Fig. 1). The weekly average temperature at Carman, Manitoba was 22°C (4.4°C warmer than normal). The coolest temperatures occurred across northwestern Alberta.

Average temperatures over the past 30 days (June 3 – July 2, 2023) have been 3°C above normal with the warmest values reported across Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan (Fig. 2). Relative to climate normals, many Manitoba locations have been 4°C  warmer than normal over the last 30 days of 2023. Though warmer than normal, temperatures continue to be coolest in the Peace River and Edmonton regions.

Since April 1, warmest temperatures have been reported across the southern prairies (Fig. 3). The coolest temperatures have been observed across eastern Saskatchewan.

Between June 26 and July 3, 2023 only small amounts of rainfall were recorded across most of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The exception was the Parkland region of both provinces, where more than 15 mm of rain was recorded (Fig. 4). Seven-day cumulative rainfall was greatest in Manitoba, where many locations reported rain amounts greater than 20 mm.

The greatest 30 day (June 3 – July 2, 2023) rainfall totals (100-160mm) were reported from a region near Edmonton, Alberta where rainfall totals are 200% of normal (Fig. 5). Rainfall amounts continue to be low across the southern prairies, particularly southern Alberta.

Since April 1, prairie rainfall has generally been below normal (Fig. 6). The driest region is southern Alberta where rainfall received so far in 2023 is only 40% of the average rainfall for the region. A region extending from Oyen to Taber has had less than 60 mm rain in 2023 (Fig. 6). Over the same time period, this region has also been one of the warmest regions of the prairies (Figs. 3).