Cambodia continues to stand out through May in Southeast Asia with exceptional water deficit in the west. Surpluses are forecast for much of the rest of Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, and may be especially intense in western Myanmar, around the Gulf of Tonkin, central Philippines, and Brunei. Deficits will emerge in the southern tip of Sumatra and into Java, but are expected to nearly disappear in Papua New Guinea, persisting mainly around the Gulf of Papua. After May, surpluses in the region will retreat and Cambodia will return to near-normal conditions.
Southeast Asia & the Pacific: Intense water surpluses to persist in Vietnam
The forecast over the next six month indicates a gradual transition from predominantly surplus conditions to deficit, though western Cambodia and Papua New Guinea stand in contrast with current deficit conditions persisting throughout the period. In the near-term through February surpluses will diminish in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Papua, but will persist in Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. After February deficits will emerge throughout Malaysia and Indonesia, diminish in western Cambodia, and moderate in Papua New Guinea.
Southeast Asia & the Pacific: Intense water deficits to persist in W Cambodia
The forecast indicates a gradual transition from predominantly surplus conditions to deficit, with Cambodia and eastern Papua New Guinea showing deficit conditions throughout. Through January surpluses will begin to retreat from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua but will persist with intensity in Southeast Asia. Moderate deficits will emerge in southern Thailand and around the Java Sea. After January severe deficits will begin to emerge in Malaysia and Indonesia and surpluses in Southeast Asia will begin to retreat.