Precipitation events 'ideal' for southern Alberta and Medicine Hat, says meteorologist. Royalkangas/Dreamstime.com

By Jayk Sterkenburg

WEATHER

Precipitation for Medicine Hat in spring ‘ideal’ as Banff sees driest winter on record

Mar 10, 2025 | 3:59 PM

Medicine Hat will require more precipitation this spring to avoid drought conditions later this year, an Environment Canada meteorologist says.

While spring doesn’t begin until March 20, meteorological spring is already underway. Medicine Hat’s low winter precipitation meant it was the 23rd driest winter on record — receiving 37 per cent of it’s normal amount.

Meteorologists say this winter experienced much less precipitation across the rest of southern, as well as central Alberta, than average.

March and April are the snowiest months of the year in Alberta, including the southern region and Medicine Hat.

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It can take one notable snowfall or rainfall event at this time of year to tip the scales between below to above average precipitation.

Alysa Pederson, Alberta warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Banff had it’s driest winter on record this year.

She said March will likely continue to see above average temperatures for southern Alberta, but parts of the region may also have above normal precipitation as well.

“When we look at the replenishing of the water table in southern Alberta, replenishing of reservoirs and the river system, we look to have a deeper snowpack than what we currently do have,” she said.

“While we typically get precipitation in the springtime more than we do in January and February, having a lower snowpack isn’t a great start.”

Pederson said it’s ideal that precipitation events will occur in the coming weeks.

She said having a low snowpack in the Rocky Mountains and in southern Alberta is a concern, especially in regards to wildfire season having begun.