May was the cure for any remaining abnormal dryness across southern Ontario and Quebec.
Although conditions in portions of the two provinces worsened in May (see map below), the latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor showed just 1% of the agricultural lands in the Central Region – which includes Ontario and Quebec – were being impacted by abnormal dryness or drought as of the end of last month. That’s down from 5% at the end of April, 34% in March and over half in February.
May precipitation in the Central Region was variable, with much of southern Ontario, southern Quebec, and northern Quebec receiving 85% to 200% of normal precipitation, with isolated areas exceeding 200%. In contrast, large areas of northwestern Ontario and central Quebec received less than 40% of normal precipitation. Temperatures were generally near normal, with much of southern Ontario slightly below normal and much of southern Quebec slightly above normal.
“Southern Ontario saw widespread rainfall which relieved dryness resulting in the removal of remaining abnormally dry regions, with reports of optimal to surplus moisture conditions and some localized flooding,” the monitor said.
Meanwhile, drought conditions expanded significantly throughout many other regions of the country in May, including northern British Columbia, central Saskatchewan, central Manitoba.
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