Since March 2023, parts of Canada have experienced severe drought. Weather conditions have been described as "unprecedented", and the rapid spread of the 2023 Canadian wildfires are attributed to the drought. According to the Canadian Drought Outlook all Provinces and Territories are in a drought. Although most of Alberta and Saskatchewan have been in moderate drought since 2020, recent drought conditions have been severe.
Canadian Drought Monitor
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Canadian Drought Monitor categorizes droughts in terms of precipitations percentiles on a scale of D0 to D4. D0 refers to an Abnormally Dry event that occurs once in three years; D4 refers to an exceptional drought that occurs once in fifty years. By June 2023, there were areas in Canada experiencing D0 to D3 events. Abnormally Dry lasting based on Drought categories are based on precipitation percentiles that generally relate to the statistical return period.
Prairie Region
In May 2023, Some locations in the Prairie regionwhich includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitobareached temperatures that were 7 degrees above normal while average temperatures were reported at 3 to 5 degrees above normal temperatures.
The first D3 Extreme Drought designation in 2023 in Canada was reported in Alberta. By the end of June because of ongoing and extreme drought conditions, Paintearth, Stettler, Vulcan, and Foothills declared states of Municipal Agricultural Disaster.