The forecast through March 2020 indicates that water deficits in the region will retreat considerably, leaving pockets in western Turkey and its central Caspian Coast, Georgia and Azerbaijan, and southwestern Saudi Arabia. Intense surpluses will persist from central into northern Syria; around Mosul, Iraq; and along Iran’s Caspian Sea Coast and border with Turkmenistan.
Middle East: Intense water deficits will persist in Iraq, increase in Iran
The forecast through September indicates that water deficits will downgrade in the Levant but remain intense in West Bank and Lebanon, and deficits will intensify on the Arabian Peninsula. In Turkey, deficits will downgrade and shrink somewhat but much of Turkey will continue in moderate to severe deficit with some pockets of greater intensity. Exceptional deficits will persist in southern Iraq, and severe deficits west of the Euphrates River. In Iran, deficits will increase and become more intense.