Which area is most at risk of drought in Canada according to the notes?

• A. Eastern coastal regions
• B. Drier northern and southern areas
• C. Central prairies
• D. Mountainous regions

Answer: (B)

Drought risk comes from a deficit of moisture available for crops—when rainfall is not enough to meet the needs of growing plants, soil moisture and water supplies fall short. In Canada, the driest zones are the areas that receive the least rainfall year round and have hot, dry summers that increase evaporation. That combination makes both the northern regions (which are generally dry and have short growing seasons) and the southern areas (which can be hot and relatively dry during the growing season) the most prone to drought.

In contrast, eastern coastal regions get plenty of rain from Atlantic weather systems, and mountainous areas often get substantial precipitation from orographic effects, so they’re less likely to experience drought. Central prairies can experience drought, but the notes highlight the drier northern and southern zones as being at the greatest risk.