Regions forecast to have significant water deficits for the 12-month period from February 2018 through January 2019 include: Brazil, southern Venezuela, Libya, Egypt, Gabon, Finland, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. Areas with a forecast of significant water surplus include: Idaho and western Montana (US), southeastern British Columbia (Canada), Tanzania, Kenya, Spain, Hungary, southern Romania, and eastern Ukraine. This Watch List is based on ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM) run on 9 May 2018.
South America: Intense water deficits to emerge in Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco
Exceptional water deficits are forecast to diminish considerably over the next three months except in the western Amazon Basin in Brazil and Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins. Deficits are also expected across Brazil’s Northeast region. Elsewhere on the continent, intense deficits are expected in western Bolivia and the Gulf of Corcovado, Chile. Areas of surpluses include central Colombia; Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; and La Pampa Province, Argentina. After February widespread surpluses will emerge in the northern Amazon Basin and Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname.
South America: Widespread exceptional water deficits for much of Brazil
Recently observed water conditions across the whole of South America are expected to persist through the near-term forecast period with widespread exceptional water deficits spanning the whole of northern Brazil and the Amazon basin. Exceptional surpluses in central Argentina and southern Paraguay persist in the near-term before moderating in the later forecast periods. In the September through November period, severe to exceptional deficits are expected to persist in northern Chile and across the northern states of Brazil including Roraima, Pará, and Amapá.
South America: Large pockets of exceptional water deficits in Brazil
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.
South America: Exceptional water deficits forecast for Brazil; surpluses in Uruguay
A vast expanse of exceptional water deficit is forecast in central Brazil as well as large pockets in some western states. Deficits of lesser severity are forecast for northern Venezuela, western French Guiana, Bolivia, Chile, and rivers in southern Argentina. Surpluses are forecast for central Colombia, northern Guyana, northern Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina.