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 620 KB) from  – September 30, 2019 October 06, 2019  indicates that areas close to the US border in the eastern region received between 45 - 59 mm of precipitation last week. Precipitation increased from the western part of the province to the east. The top three locations with the highest amount of rainfall are Prawda (58.7 mm), Sprague Lake (56.3 mm) and Menisino (51.8 mm). The Interlake got between 25 – 30 mm and areas close to the Saskatchewan border in the northwest and southwest regions received the least amount of precipitation at less than 15 mm.
  • Total Accumulated Precipitation Map (PDF 483 KB) from May 01 to October 6, 2019, shows that slightly over a third of the locations monitored have accumulated over 400 mm of precipitation since May 01. These areas are mostly in the Southwest (around Ninette, Mountainside, Minto, Boissevain, Argue, Wawanesa, Forrest, Rivers and Shilo); Central (Brunkild and Treherne) and Southeast (Steinbach, St. Pierre, Rosa, Marchand, Zhoda, Gardenton and Menisino) regions. Zhoda, Gardenton, Marchand, Mountainside, St. Pierre, Sprague, Menisino and Rosa are the locations with over 500 mm of accumulated precipitation. The Interlake and Northwest regions have received the lowest total accumulated precipitation between 217 and 330 mm
  • Percent of Normal Accumulated Precipitation Map (PDF 633 KB) from May 01 to October 6, 2019  is based on historical record over a 30-year period. Over two-thirds of the locations monitored have received above normal precipitation as a result of the record precipitation amount in September. Many locations in the southwest and eastern region are well above normal accumulated precipitation. The top three locations are Mountainside (177%), Marchand (165%) and Gardenton (164%). Many areas in the Northwest are between 63 – 80% or normal and the Interlake region is mostly between 80 – 90%.
  •  Soil Moisture Top 30 cm Map (PDF 472 KB) and 0 – 120 cm Soil Moisture Map (470 KB) from October 7, 2019 in the top 0-30 cm shows the impact of September precipitation events and the past weekend’s precipitation with mostly wet to very wet surface soil moisture condition at almost all locations. The Interlake and Norwest regions are at optimal level. Sub-surface soil moisture condition is wet to very wet in the southeast, central and parts of southwest regions. The Interlake and Northeast regions are at optimal level in most locations except at Pipe Lake, Moosehorn and Eriksdale. Pierson (southwest) and Menisino (southeast) are the other locations with dry soil moisture condition at depth. Precipitation events since the start of September has helped to re-charge sub-surface soil moisture. 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 486 KB) from May 01 to October 6, 2019 shows that the southern areas of the Central region received the greatest total accumulated growing degree-days (1,640 – 1,748 GDD) with Winkler (1,748 units), Altona (1,736 units) and Morden (1,731 units) as the top three locations. Areas south and west of the Riding Mountain National Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Park have the lowest GDD accumulation. 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 501 KB)  from May 01 to October 6, 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, especially areas south and west of the Riding/Duck Mountain Parks as well as some areas in the southwest, central and eastern regions which are between 81 - 92% of normal GDD heat accumulation. Arborg, Minnedosa and Steinbach are the locations with 102% of normal GDD accumulation
  • Total Accumulated Corn Heat Unit Map (PDF 486 KB) from May 01 to October 6, 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 (2,700 – 2,808 CHU). Heat accumulation generally decreases from south to north. Corn heat 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 495 KB) from May 01 to October 6, 2019  shows that 30 of the 114 locations were at or slightly above normal (100 – 103%) of normal CHU. The areas with less than 94% of normal CHU are similar to the areas with the lowest percent of normal GDD. The climate normal is based on historical record over a 30-year period.
  •  Total Accumulated Physiological Days (P-Days) Map (PDF 491 KB) from June 01 to October 6, 2019  shows that the top three locations with the highest amount of heat accumulation are Morden (896 units), St. Claude (895 units), and Portage la Prairie (891 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 494 KB) from  June 01 to October 6, 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 (Lake Francis, Selkirk, Narcisse and Taylor’s Point); areas south and east of the Riding Mountain park (Oakburn, Wasagaming and Lake Audy) as well as the central region close to the US border (Snowflake and Windygates) have accumulated less than 100% of normal P-days.
     
Other links of interest to access current weather conditions recorded at each station:
 
 

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.