Environment Canada sees ‘average’ Prairie winter ahead

MarketsFarm — An ‘average’ winter is in the forecast for most of the Canadian Prairies, according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast for December through February from Environment Canada, released Wednesday.

The government department is calling for normal temperatures across all the agricultural areas of the three Prairie provinces — aside from the northernmost reaches of Alberta’s grain growing area into the Peace River district, where there’s a 40 per cent chance of below-normal temperatures.

Precipitation is expected to be normal across most Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan, with a 40 to 50 per cent chance of above-normal moisture in Alberta and northern Saskatchewan.

Most of Eastern Canada, from Ontario through the Maritime provinces, are forecast to see above-normal temperatures over the next three months.