Map: February Brings Little Drought Relief for Ontario

Heavy snow in parts of Ontario in February has apparently done little to shrink current dryness and drought in the province. 

According to the latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor, 56% of the agricultural lands within the central region – which includes both Ontario and Quebec - were being impacted by abnormal dryness or drought as of the end of last month. That’s little changed from 55% at the end of January and 58% in December but remains well down from 87% in November. 

Precipitation during February varied significantly, with southern Ontario and southern Quebec receiving 60–150% of normal. Southern Ontario saw multiple storm systems bringing above normal precipitation, which contributed to some of the highest recorded snowpacks in Hamilton and Toronto, helping ease drought severity, the monitor said. 

Abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions were reduced across much of southern Ontario. However, pockets of moderate and severe drought remained, particularly around Kitchener, Oshawa, and Kingston, where longer-term moisture deficits persisted.  

Meanwhile, dry conditions emerged in parts of northwestern Ontario, leading to the development of abnormally dry conditions in the northern part of the province, around the Rainy Lake area and in Sudbury near North Bay.