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.
Middle East: Water deficits continue on the Arabian Peninsula
Water deficits are forecast to become less severe from September through November in southern Turkey, the Levant, northern Saudi Arabia, and eastern Oman. However, the extent and severity of deficits will increase in southern Iraq, Iran, Qatar, and Yemen. The progression of water anomalies forecast in the Middle East indicates that widespread water deficits will persist through May, diminishing after October before becoming more severe again from March on.