Weather Conditions and Reports

Manitoba's ag weather program measures and records data year round from over 100 weather stations across agro-Manitoba. The stations monitor air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, soil temperature, and soil moisture. The latest weather conditions from each station are made available every 15 minutes throughout the growing season and every hour during the winter months. 

 

Weekly Crop Weather Report and Maps

The latest weather report and maps are made available every Monday year round. Subscribe to receive a weekly distribution of seasonal reports and maps by email.

 Higher resolution maps are available on request.

  • Seven Day Accumulated Precipitation Map (PDF 485 KB) from  August 05 – 11, 2019 indicates that most areas received less than 4 mm precipitation last week. The south-east region received the highest precipitation amount with Zhoda (27.7 mm), Gardenton (23 mm) and Rosa (14.4 mm) being the top three locations. The Northwest region was mostly dry except at San Clara with 8.7 mm.
  • Total Accumulated Precipitation Map (PDF 486 KB) from May 01 to August 11, 2019 shows that some areas in the Southwest  (around Ninette, Wawanesa, Mountainside, Minto and Glenboro); Central (Brunkild) and Southeast (Marchand, Rosa, Zhoda, Gardenton, Sprague and Menisino) have received over 250 mm of precipitation since May 1. Zhoda at 330 mm remains the only location with over 300 mm. Low total precipitation persists for most areas north of highway 16 in the west and north of the Trans-Canada highway in the central and eastern regions with precipitation accumulation between 75 – 150 mm. The Interlake region and areas around the Riding Mountain National Park have received less than 125 mm of total accumulated precipitation.
  • Percent of Normal Accumulated Precipitation Map (PDF 494 KB) from May 01 to August 11, 2019 is based on historical record over a 30-year period. Many locations in the southwest and eastern regions are at 80 – 130% of climate normal accumulated precipitation. The top three locations with above percent of normal accumulated precipitation are Mountainside (130%), Zhoda (117%) and Wawanesa (115%). The Northwest and Interlake regions are dry and generally between 33 - 60% of normal precipitation. Lakeland (Central), Rorketon, Keld, Laurier (Northwest), Lake Audy Wasagaming, Oakburn (Southwest) as well as Selkirk, Inwood and Fisherton are less than 50% of the normal accumulated precipitation.
  •  Soil Moisture Top 30 cm Map (PDF 470 KB) and 0 – 120 cm Soil Moisture Map (463 KB) from August 12, 2019 shows large areas with dry soil moisture condition in the top 0 - 30 cm, especially, the Interlake which is also dry at the subsurface 0 – 120 cm soil moisture. Sub-surface soil moisture condition remains at optimal level at most locations across agro-Manitoba although more areas are getting drier compared to last week. Soil moisture levels are rated as follows: < 20% Very Dry, 20 – 40% Dry; 40 – 70% Optimal; 70 – 90% Wet and >90% Very Wet in relation to the soil saturation level (maximum recorded at that station).
  • Total Accumulated Growing Degree Day Map - Base 5°C (PDF 485 KB) from May 01 to August 11, 2019 shows that the southern areas of the Central region received the greatest total accumulated growing degree days (1150 – 1228 GDD) with Winkler (1228 units), Morden (1222 units) and Altona (1220 units) as the top three locations. Heat accumulation generally decreases from south to north. Growing degree days are calculated by averaging daily maximum-minimum temperatures and subtracting 5°C which assumes that growth does not occur below this temperature.
  • Percent of Normal Accumulated Growing Degree Day Map (PDF 500 KB)  from May 01 to August 11, 2019 shows the range in growing degree days for agro-Manitoba compared to historical average.  The climate normal is based on historical record over a 30-year period. Most of agro-Manitoba remains generally cooler than normal at most locations, especially areas south of the Riding Mountain National Park as well as San Clara and Minitonas (northwest region); Boissevain, Mountainside (southwest region); Snowflake and Windygates (central region) which are between 82 - 90% of normal GDD heat accumulation.
  • Total Accumulated Corn Heat Unit Map (PDF 488 KB) from May 01 to August 11, 2019 shows that similar to the GDD, the southern areas of the Central region close to the Red River have received the greatest total accumulated corn heat units (1,900 – 1,971 CHU). Heat accumulation generally decreases from south to north. Corn heats units are similar to growing degree days given they both assume that growth increases with increasing temperature but they are calculated differently.  Corn heat units calculates the day and night temperatures separately.  It is assumed that no growth occurs with night temperatures below 4.4°C or day temperatures below 10°C . Maximum growth occurs at 30°C and decreases with higher temperatures.
  • Percent of Normal Accumulated Corn Heat Unit Map (PDF 655 497 KB) from May 01 to August 11, 2019 shows that areas in the southwest region from Souris to Minnedosa have the highest percent of normal CHU. The climate normal is based on historical record over a 30-year period.
  • Total Accumulated Physiological Days (P-Days) Map (PDF 495 KB) from June 01 to August 11, 2019 shows that the top three locations with the highest amount of heat accumulation  occurred at St. Claude (572 units), Portage la Prairie (566 units) and Morden (565 units). Similar to GDD and CHU, the P-day provides an indication of heat accumulation. However, it uses 7°C as the minimum air temperature for growth and development; rapid growth at 21°C and maximum growth at 30°C. P-Day is mostly used for Potato heat accumulation. A different start date (June 01) is used for P-days because accumulation commences at about 50% potato emergence. Other heat accumulation starts from seeding.
  • Percent of Normal Accumulated P-Days Map (PDF 493 KB) from  June 01 to August 11, 2019 shows that compared to historical accumulation, areas around Minnedosa have received the highest percentage of normal P-days heat accumulation at 10% above normal. Most locations have above normal percent of accumulated P-day. However, the Interlake; areas east of the Riding Mountain park as well as the central region close to the US border have accumulated less than 100% of normal P-days.

Seasonal Maps

Seasonal Reports

Visit the Seasonal Reports page for information on progress in seeding and crop establishment, crop development, pest activity including weeds, insects and disease, harvest progress, crop yields and grades, fall field work progress, and status of winter cereal crop seeding and establishment. Information on haying progress and estimated yields, as well as pasture conditions is included.