Alberta Drought Monitor & Wildfire Conditions
Alberta's drought context helps distinguish persistent moisture deficits from the province's rapidly changing daily fire-weather and active-incident picture.
National drought conditions are assessed monthly using multiple indicators and expert interpretation.
FireRadar links to the current official assessment rather than estimating a drought class between AAFC releases. Historic monthly maps and change analysis remain available from the official source.
Canadian Drought Monitor scale
How drought relates to wildfire conditions in Alberta
Alberta's foothills, parkland, boreal forest and agricultural regions can experience different drought and precipitation patterns at the same time. Fire outcomes can change quickly with wind, spring drying, lightning and short-range weather even when the monthly drought category is unchanged. Drought therefore remains context rather than a local wildfire prediction.
Drought
Longer-term moisture deficit and dryness context from the monthly AAFC national assessment.
Fire Weather Index
Daily weather-based fire-potential guidance from NRCan CWFIS. It can change much faster than monthly drought status.
Active wildfires
Actual current incident records from responsible wildfire authorities. These remain separate from both drought and forecast products.