Saturday, June 11, 2022, 8:55 am – Parts of the prairies will be in an unstable period of prolonged weather, with potential storms this weekend and then a major system early next week that will bring desperately needed rain in areas that are severely lacking in moisture.
This could be a rather stormy weekend in Les Prades, marking the start of a long stretch of unstable weather that will continue next week. For some this will not be desirable, as there could be severe storms, but for areas that are suffering from severe drought conditions, it will be great news. The rain of possible weekend storms and a major system early next week could severely affect the rainfall deficit. More information on what to expect in the coming days, below.
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THIS WEEKEND: POSSIBILITIES TO RETURN THE FRUIT TIME
A low-pressure system moving across the region will carry a widespread risk of storms in all three provinces this weekend.
The risk of more widespread storms will fall on Saturday afternoon, as the downturn brings a lot of instability and rise in the region. Some storms could reach severe limits.
We are analyzing two main areas at risk of severe storms. The largest area covers eastern Alberta and a small section of western Saskatchewan. Another area at risk of severe storms extends from southeastern Saskatchewan to southwestern Manitoba.
Any storm that forms on Saturday in and around risk areas could produce heavy hail and strong gusts of wind.
We will see a new possibility of storms on Sunday, with more risk areas to see them reach serious limits. East Alberta through south-central Saskatchewan and southeastern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, can see severe storms. Similar threats with Saturday storms, with heavy hail and strong gusts of wind as major hazards.
Beyond the weekend, we need to start looking at the next major storm system that will arrive early next week.
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MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY: MAIN SYSTEM APPROACHES WEST
We are sunk in exceptional drought conditions on the western prairies.
The latest Canadian Drought Monitor update, released on May 31, shows almost the entire southern half of Alberta struggling with severe or extreme drought. This severe drought is also spreading to parts of southern Saskatchewan.
Fortunately for growers, there is a storm on the horizon that could bring beneficial rains to the areas that need it most.
A low-spiral low-lying spiral over the Gulf of Alaska has brought a long stretch of bad weather to the west coast in recent days. This stubborn pattern will give rise to a tilt over the Pacific Northwest this weekend before rising northward into the western prairies.
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This trough will generate a low pressure system as it ascends the Rocky Mountains, causing several days of rain in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The low-pressure system may not move anywhere in a hurry, leading to several days of rain in the affected areas.
Rainfall is likely to begin in Alberta on Monday and last until Tuesday. Rainfall will last even longer in Saskatchewan, with rainfall extending later Monday and lasting through Wednesday.
While it is still too early for a total of specific rainfall, heavy rains are likely to fall in the areas that need it most. Be sure to come back frequently as we approach the storm, and forecasters improve their predictions for the region.