A picture of Altawana Drive in Medicine Hat shows green grass and trees, despite limited annual precipitation in the city. (Image Credit: File Photo/CHAT News)

By David Opinko

Annual Precipitation

Medicine Hat is second on a list of Canada’s driest cities, and Lethbridge is fourth

Mar 12, 2026 | 10:50 AM

Albertans is known to be a fairly dry province, but a new report shows that it is perhaps the driest in the entire country.

WorldAtlas.com has released its list of “The 10 Driest Cities in Canada”, half of which are in Alberta. Included are Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton.

The group states that continental distance from oceans and mountain ranges factors into why many of the driest communities are in the west and on the prairies.

“Coastal locations can be wet due to frequent marine systems, while interior plains and valleys can remain dry enough to shape vegetation patterns, water management needs, and seasonal risk profiles,” reads a write-up from WorldAtlas.com.

“Understanding these geographic patterns can help you plan when and where you might like to travel in Canada, or even choose a new city to call home.”

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It reports that Southern Alberta’s dryness reflects both distance from oceans and regional wind patterns.

Citing data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, WorldAtlas.com says Medicine Hat averaged just 13 inches (330.9 mm) of rain every year from 1991 to 2020. Putting it as the second driest location on the list.

“Much of Medicine Hat’s precipitation falls during the warmer months, often tied to storms that can be intense but brief. Winters can be cold, but long periods pass without heavy precipitation. Over the long term, the annual total stays low by Canadian urban standards,” the report says of Medicine Hat.

Lethbridge averages 14.7 inches (372.5 mm) of annual total precipitation, placing it fourth on the list.

“The Rocky Mountains influence precipitation patterns, but much Pacific moisture does not persist far into the southern Prairie region. Chinook winds are a notable feature of southern Alberta winters. These downslope winds bring rapid warming and lower humidity, which can reduce snow cover duration and increase evaporation. Summer precipitation often arrives in bursts rather than extended rainy periods, keeping annual totals relatively low over the long term,” it says of Lethbridge.

The only Canadian location receiving less precipitation than Medicine Hat was Kamloops, B.C., which showed annual totals of 10.7 inches (272.9 mm).

“The city sits in the Thompson Valley in British Columbia’s interior, where major terrain to the west reduces the amount of Pacific moisture that reaches the region. Descending air warms as it moves into inland basins, lowering relative humidity and limiting precipitation. Seasonality also matters. Summers tend to be warm and dry, with much of the year’s moisture arriving in short events rather than sustained wet periods. Winters bring colder temperatures, but overall precipitation remains low compared with many coastal locations,” it says of Kamloops.

You can see the full list at WorldAtlas.com.

— With files from Jesse Gill