Central America and Northern South America: Exceptional Water Deficits July 2015 through January 2016

Exceptional water deficits are forecast for Central America starting in July and continuing through January 2016, as shown in the upper figure, which depicts the composite water anomaly index for the period August through October 2015. Exceptional deficits are also forecast to hit Colombia, Ecuador, and Northern Peru in late summer. The area of extreme to exceptional deficits in Venezuela expands into Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana beginning in June, with the area of greatest deficits moving southward beginning in October. A sizable portion of Northern Brazil is forecast to experience exceptional deficits beginning in December 2015. The lower figure illustrates the extent of the deficits during the period November 2015 through January 2016.

WSIM Composite Water Anomaly Index for Aug 2015 through Oct 2015

WSIM Composite Water Anomaly Index for Aug 2015 through Oct 2015

WSIM Composite Water Anomaly Index for Nov 2015 through Jan 2016

WSIM Composite Water Anomaly Index for Nov 2015 through Jan 2016

This blog post presents results from our May “WSIM Global Water Monitor and Forecast” report. This report is based on observed temperature and precipitation through April 2015 and an ensemble of 28 temperature and precipitation forecasts issued by NOAA's CFSv2 the last week of April 2015.