Canada must prepare for more seasons marked by severe drought, experts say as this summer’s bone-dry conditions tormented farmers, strained municipal water supply and fuelled one of the worst wildfire seasons on record.

Seventy-one per cent of the country was either abnormally dry or under drought conditions as of the end of July, according to the federal government’s drought monitor released last week.

Drought-stricken communities across the country have urged residents to cut back on water and some have instituted outright bans on most outdoor water activities to help preserve their drinking water.

What has stood out about this year is just how widespread those drought conditions have become, said John Pomeroy, one of Canada’s leading hydrologists. The only other year in recent memory

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