WHAT IS A DROUGHT?

In Alberta, a drought is usually declared by municipalities monitoring local conditions, lack of rain, crop damage, moisture levels and other factors. The city or county can then qualify for provincial assistance.

Defining a drought is complex, as conditions are changeable, especially early in the season before mid-June rains in northern Alberta.

This year, the dry conditions could be reversed in the next two weeks. But if there had been no winter precipitation, the situation could already be worse.

A provincial government can also declare a drought to qualify for federal assistance.

Alberta’s worst drought of recent times was in 2001-02, which caused serious damage to agriculture industry.

Environment Canada defines a drought as “an extended period of below-normal precipitation resulting in decreased soil and subsoil moisture levels and diminished surface water supplies affecting crop growth, livestock water or irrigation water.”

Alberta has a similar definition.