If it feels like you have had to water your lawn more frequently this summer, there is a good reason for that.

Local Meteorologist Scott Kehler with Weatherlogics says the first half of 2019 in Steinbach and area has been historically dry. He notes the period from January 1st to June 30th was the 4th driest since records were first kept in 1957.

Kehler says this is largely due to a very dry spring. The Steinbach area, which uses the Kleefeld weather station, received less than 100 millimetres of rain from April through June. Kehler says typically during that stretch, about 200 millimetres of rain falls.

Total precipitation through the first six months in Steinbach was 137.3 millimetres. The driest start to a year was in 1988 when only 116.6 millimetres fell. In 1973 there was 127.7 millimetres and in 1958 there was 133.3 millimetres.

According to Kehler, there is not much relief in sight anytime soon.

"The current longer range forecast still shows pretty dry weather for the southeast through the first half of July," notes Kehler.

Kehler says during the summer months, a lot of precipitation falls in the form of thunderstorms. For that reason, deficits in rainfall can be made up quite quickly in summer.

"In order to get any of those heavier amounts you will have to hope for some localized thunderstorm activity to pass over the region," he explains.

The extreme dry is being felt throughout southern Manitoba. In fact, Kehler says Winnipeg is reporting its driest start to the year since records were first kept in 1873.

Meanwhile, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Steinbach is currently experiencing moderate drought conditions.