DROUGHT

What we once thought we knew about water patterns in Canada’s Prairies is no longer true in the face of climate change. For instance, earlier-than-usual snowpack melt in the mountains means less spring runoff for Prairie watersheds. Add to that hotter temperatures, less precipitation and greater demands on watersheds from agriculture and industry, and this perfect storm of drought-causing factors is expected to increasingly plague the Prairies, such as this field in St. Jean Baptiste, Man.

Michela Rosano (@Michelajrosano) is Canadian Geographic’s associate editor.