It was another wetter than normal month in Winnipeg and across much of southern MB and the Prairies in September, finishing off one of the wettest growing seasons on record across the Prairies. In Winnipeg, September rainfall totalled 93.0 mm at YWG airport, almost twice the normal September rainfall of 52 mm. This pushed this season's total precipitation since April 1st to 582.5 mm, 154% of "normal" (30 yr average = 378 mm) making it the second wettest April to September period in Winnipeg since records began in 1873. The all time wettest April-September period in Winnipeg was in 1977 when 594.3 mm of precipitation was recorded, about 12 mm more than this year. This year's high total was mainly due to several heavy rainstorms of 50-100 mm that occurred over the Red River valley in late May as well as August and September. Even heavier amounts of rain were recorded over southern and eastern parts of Winnipeg during the past 5 months, including September with 100-120 mm of rainfall reported in some areas of the city. At my site in Charleswood, seasonal rainfall from April 1st - September 30th totalled 685 mm, over 100 mm more than the airport site. Further south, Morris reported 642.6 mm from April 1st-Sept 30th. The wet weather has made it a challenge for area farmers, especially with some of the heavy downpours occurring late in the growing season resulting in a delayed harvest for many. Fortunately, sunny dry weather at the end of the September has salvaged hopes for a more complete harvest in southern MB before colder weather sets in.The wet weather this year has not only been a problem in southern MB, but throughout the prairies with one of the wettest growing seasons on record from Alberta to the Ontario border. The situation is especially bad in central Saskatchewan where record wet weather and an early killing freeze has severely limited agricultural output this year, resulting in major financial losses.
April to September 2010 Precipitation Summary (mm)
Month..........YWG airport.....30 yr average.........Charleswood (Rob's Obs)
April.............. 45.5 mm ......... 31.9 mm ........ 35.8 mm
May............ 160.0 mm ....... 58.8 mm ....... 185.9 mm
June........... 71.0 mm ....... 89.5 mm ....... 100.6 mm
July ........... 69.0 mm ........ 70.6 mm ........ 68.0 mm
August........ 144.0 mm ...... 75.1 mm ........ 172.2 mm
September ...93.0 mm ....... 52.3 mm ........ 122.9 mm
TOTAL ...... 582.5 mm ......378.2 mm ........ 685.4 mm
Our summer reminds me of the infamous pineapple express on the west coast and now a similar phenomena on the east coast. Have our summer rains moved East. Do they resemble each other in more than just repetitive copious rain.
ReplyDeleteSaw the Frost warning for the northern half of ND. Didn't expect it in Southern MB (lake et al)
ReplyDeleteHow severe and widespread was it?
It's the beginning of October and I still haven't had a frost event at my central south-west River Heights house. Not bad. I have plenty of tender coleus plants, and while they're not looking good in this cool weather, they haven't frozen.
ReplyDeleteFrost warnings are not issued for the Prairies effective on the first day of fall, as that is the average date for the first frost for southern Manitoba. Frost is still mentioned in the forecast until Tanksgiving Day but a warning would not be issued.
ReplyDeleteHad our first frost here in west Charleswood last night.
ReplyDeleteIn our area for probably the last time we were frost free on east but not on West side of Pembina Hwy. opposite St Vital park. Lots of Fog and mist rising from the River til noon.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the Manitoba low temps on the CWB Ag network and almost all were 0C or less. Exceptions were Neepawa and Minnedosa at +1 and Gimli and Victoria Beach at +3 and +6.
0C reported at Glenlea south of St Norbert and Elm Creek as well as Cartwright near the US border and Killarney in the same area.
Growing season ended today at my house. Low temperature of -0.6C.
ReplyDeleteThat BMO $3 Billion Prairie crop loss estimate was based on hectares not planted due to spring and early summer rains. Total losses including lost acreage, continued late season rains and an early hard frost has yet to be determined but will likely exceed that number.
ReplyDelete