Southern Alberta snowfall ‘good news’ for farmers amid dry winter

Kyle Fougere, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said March is typically the snowiest month for southern Alberta.

Following a dry and hot 2021, the agriculture industry in southern Alberta is hoping for more moisture ahead of growing season.

Thursday’s snowfall is something grain producer John McKee said is “very good news.”

“When Mother Nature is cooperating it just makes our lives so much easier,” he said. “It removes the stress.

“With a lot of the frost already out of the ground, this is a very good thing to have happen.”

Kyle Fougere, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said March is typically the snowiest month for southern Alberta.

However, over the last few months, precipitation hasn’t been quite up to standard.

“Calgary ended up with about 94 per cent of what they would typically have in a winter for precipitation,” Fougere said.

“In Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, (there was) around 77-78 per cent of what they would typically get in a winter period.”