ISciences Worldwide Water Watch List May 2017

15 May 2017

This map presents a selection of regions likely to encounter significant water anomalies during the one year period beginning in February 2017 and running through January 2018 using 3 months of observed temperature and precipitation data and 9 months of forecast data.

The synopsis that follows provides highlights of regional water forecasts. Regional details are available in ISciences Global Water Monitor & Forecast May 15, 2017 (pdf).

United States: The forecast for the next three months shows a significant reduction in the extent and severity of water deficits in the Ohio River Valley, Lower Mississippi Valley, the Deep South, and South Atlantic states. Parts of New England will transition from deficit to moderate surplus. Surpluses are forecast in the northern half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Wisconsin, and Iowa, southern Missouri, southern Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma, and southern Colorado. Extreme to exceptional surpluses are forecast in Idaho and surrounding states, and surpluses of generally lesser severity are expected in California’s northern two-thirds.

Canada: Deficits of varying severity are expected through October in central and northern Quebec, Ontario, northeastern Manitoba, and northern British Columbia and Alberta. These deficits may be exceptional through July in Ontario along the border with Quebec and northeastern Manitoba, and through October across central Quebec. Moderate surpluses are forecast through October in southern Quebec. Surpluses reaching exceptional intensity are forecast through July in northeastern British Columbia; and through October from northwestern Saskatchewan into Ft. McMurray, Alberta, and northwest of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba.

Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean: Though deficits are forecast for Mexico over the next six months, they are expected to be primarily moderate, a significant improvement over the prior three months. Through July deficits are forecast in northwestern Mexico; scattered down the Pacific coast and central Mexico; in Yucatan, Tabasco, and Chiapas; and southern Guatemala. After July deficits will continue to emerge in Baja California, Mexico’s southern states, and northern Central America. Some modest surpluses are forecast to emerge in the north along the border of Sonora and Chihuahua.

South America: The forecast through July shows water conditions similar to the prior three months: large, widespread pockets of exceptional deficits in Brazil, and deficits along many Brazilian rivers. Deficits in southern Venezuela are forecast to increase in severity while those in the north recede. Severe to exceptional deficits are expected to persist in northern Chile. Surpluses are forecast to emerge in Bolivia east of Lake Titicaca; surpluses in eastern Paraguay will increase; and surpluses will persist in Buenos Aires, La Pampa, and Neuquén Provinces in Argentina.

Europe: Water deficits of varying severity are forecast to persist in western, northern, and Mediterranean nations of Europe, and to emerge eastward in the next three months. Surpluses are forecast to diminish in Eastern Europe and western European Russia, persist in eastern Romania and Moldova, and emerge in Murmansk (Russia) and northwestern Sweden. Except for Finland and Estonia, where deficits will remain exceptional, the forecast for August through October indicates an overall reduction in the extent and severity of deficits.

Africa: Severe to exceptional water deficits are forecast across northern Africa, Gabon, central Republic of the Congo, and western Madagascar through July or longer. Moderate to severe deficits are expected in northern Cameroon, eastern Central African Republic, southwestern Ethiopia, western Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, and northern Mozambique. Exceptional surpluses are expected to emerge in northeastern and coastal Kenya, and to re-emerge in south-central Sudan. Surpluses of varying intensity are forecast to persist in southeastern Tanzania, western Zambia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and along South Africa’s border with Botswana. After July deficits in the north will persist, though diminish slightly in intensity and extent.

Middle East: Severe to exceptional deficits are forecast throughout Saudi Arabia from May through July, increasing in extent from the prior three months, and in southern Iraq and west of the Euphrates. Deficits nearly as intense will emerge in United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Lebanon. Deficits of varying severity are forecast for Turkey, Lebanon, West Bank, Israel, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, and eastern Iran. Surpluses may persist in northeastern Iraq into northwestern Iran. The forecast for August through October shows a distribution pattern similar to May through July.

Central Asia and Russia: Widespread exceptional water deficits in northern Russia observed in the prior three months are forecast to retreat May through July. However, drier than normal conditions will persist from the Yamal Peninsula to the Sea of Okhotsk. Exceptional surpluses are forecast in the Volga River Basin, the Irtysh, and between the Ob and the Tom Rivers. Surpluses will continue to emerge in many parts of Kazakhstan and are also forecast for eastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Moderate deficits are forecast for Turkmenistan and central Uzbekistan. Beyond July the forecast shows a similar geographic distribution of anomalies but with some changes in conditions.

South Asia: Water conditions in the region are forecast to improve considerably in the next three months. In general, deficits in India are expected to downgrade in intensity though severe to extreme deficits are forecast in the south, affecting Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, and coastal Maharashtra. Deficits will diminish in Pakistan as well. Moderate to exceptional deficits are forecast for western Afghanistan. Exceptional surpluses will persist in Jammu and Kashmir, and moderate to extreme surpluses in eastern Afghanistan, northeastern Pakistan, and northeastern Bangladesh. Surpluses are also forecast along the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal. Overall, deficits in the region will continue to diminish after July.

Southeast Asia and the Pacific: From May through July moderate to severe water deficits are forecast to emerge in eastern Myanmar and western Thailand. Exceptional deficits in Papua New Guinea will downgrade but severe to extreme deficits will persist and emerge farther west into Papua, Indonesia. Moderate deficits are forecast to emerge in the western two-thirds of Indonesian Borneo. Surpluses reaching exceptional severity will persist in Sumbawa and Flores Islands, Indonesia, and moderate surpluses are forecast for northeastern Borneo and southern Philippines. After July deficits in the region will downgrade and surpluses will nearly disappear.

East Asia: A return to near-normal conditions is forecast for Southeast China from May through July, a change from surpluses observed in prior months. Deficits of varying severity are forecast for Mongolia; western Inner Mongolia, Guangdong, and Yunnan, China; and northern Japan. Surpluses are forecast in Qinghai and in a wide north/south swatch of central Tibet. The forecast for August through October shows a significant retreat of water anomalies in China’s eastern half, with some moderate deficits in Guizhou, Sichuan, and coastal Guangdong.

Australia: The May through July forecast indicates that Australia will transition away from widespread and intense water deficits observed February through April. However, severe to exceptional deficits are forecast for southwestern Western Australia, the Darwin Region of Northern Territory, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, much of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, and New Caledonia. Surpluses are expected to persist in northeastern Queensland, and a large block of surpluses in eastern Kimberly, Western Australia will transition to both deficits and surpluses. After July deficits will continue to retreat in Australia, except in Tasmania, leaving much of the country in near-normal conditions.

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