Less than half of the agricultural lands in Ontario and Quebec are now being impacted by abnormal dryness or drought, following above normal precipitation in March.
According to the latest monthly update of the Canadian drought monitor 45% of the agricultural lands in the Central Region – which includes both Ontario and Quebec – were affected by abnormal dryness or some form of drought as of the end of last month. That’s down sharply from 85% in February and 97% at the end of 2025.
“Above-normal March precipitation combined with seasonally cool temperatures across central Canada contributed to improving short-term moisture conditions in many areas,” the monitor said.
Ontario received between 85% and 200% of normal precipitation, with wetter pockets in central regions exceeding 200% of normal including the Sudbury, Owen Sound to Kitchener regions as well as the Oshawa area. On the other hand, northern areas experienced localized precipitation deficits, receiving only 40 to 85% of normal.
Drought conditions improved across most regions as a direct result of above-normal precipitation, particularly in southern and eastern areas. In eastern and central Ontario, widespread precipitation led to the removal of moderate and severe drought, and reductions in abnormally dry conditions. In western and southern Ontario, moderate drought was eliminated, but with areas of abnormally dry conditions persisting in the southernmost region of the province.
In Quebec, conditions were predominantly wet, with much of the province receiving well above normal precipitation (115% to more than 200% of normal), including southeastern areas through to the Gaspé Peninsula where totals ranged from 115% to 150% of normal. These above-normal precipitation patterns contributed to improvements in short-term indicators, although longer-term dryness persisted in some areas.
