The forecast through March 2020 for Canada’s most populated areas indicates nearly normal water conditions for Québec City, Montreal, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver; moderate deficits west of Ottawa and around Regina; and severe surpluses west of Toronto. Nationwide, anomalies will be similar to those observed in the prior three months including widespread, exceptional deficits in central and northern Quebec.
Canada: Deficits persist in Gatineau River Watershed QC
The forecast through April indicates exceptional water deficits across Quebec from Hudson Bay into central Labrador, and exceptional deficits in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, northern New Brunswick, and around Fortune Bay on the Island of Newfoundland. Moderate to extreme deficits will persist along Ontario’s eastern border; surpluses are forecast around Toronto. Intense deficits are expected in southern Saskatchewan and the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Athabasca River in Alberta. Surpluses are forecast in southern British Columbia and severe deficits in southern Vancouver Island.
Canada: Water deficits forecast for Ottawa-Gatineau region; surpluses in southern BC
The forecast through February indicates a pattern of anomalies similar to the prior three months, including: exceptional water deficits in Quebec, notably in the Ottawa-Gatineau River region in the south and across the border into Ontario; intense deficits in the Middle and Upper Reaches of the Athabasca River watershed in Alberta; and intense surpluses in southeastern British Columbia. Deficits are expected to increase in southern Saskatchewan where anomalies will be severe to exceptional.
Canada: Water deficits to downgrade in SK & MB
The forecast through October indicates some retreat of exceptional water deficits, especially in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba where deficits are expected to downgrade, becoming mild to moderate. Deficits will shrink in British Columbia around Prince George, though remain exceptional; will downgrade somewhat in Alberta and along Ontario’s eastern border; and will shrink in Quebec but remain widespread. Exceptional surpluses in southern BC will diminish.