In the near-term, Europe is forecast to experience generally moderate water deficits with more exceptional conditions affecting the Baltic States, Finland and southern Sweden. On the mainland the Benelux States as well as portions of Austria and Italy may experience more intense conditions. These are forecast to moderate steady through the mid-forecast period shifting to moderate surpluses across most of northern Europe in the December through February 2018 time frame. A pocket of exceptional surpluses in eastern Romania persists throughout the forecast, moderating slightly in early 2018.
Europe: Water deficits in Finland, surpluses forecast for western European Russia
From March through May widespread water surpluses are forecast to emerge in western European Russia, which may be exceptional near St. Petersburg and to the east. Severe to exceptional deficits are forecast for Finland, Estonia, much of Latvia, southern Sweden and Denmark. Scattered moderate deficits are forecast for much of Western and Central Europe with pockets of greater severity in central Germany, southern Austria, Macedonia, and from Rome to Palermo, Italy. Surpluses are forecast for Switzerland and eastern Romania. The June through August forecast indicates primarily moderate deficits throughout most of Europe with widespread exceptional deficits persisting in Finland and Estonia.
ISciences Worldwide Water Watch List March 2017
Regions likely to have significant water deficits for the 12-month period from December 2016 through November 2017 include: Arkansas, Quebec, Brazil, Finland, Denmark, Libya, Niger, Gabon, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, northern Russia, Inner Mongolia, Thailand, western Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. Water surpluses are forecast for: Idaho, Central California, southwestern Zambia, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, northeastern Afghanistan, and between the Irtysh and Yenisei Rivers in Russia. This Watch List is based on ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM) Global Water Monitor and Forecast issued 8 March 2017.
Europe: Water deficits in Western Europe, surpluses in western European Russia
Deficits will persist in much of Western Europe and Scandinavia, will spread in the Iberian Peninsula and in Italy, and will emerge in eastern Czech Republic, western Slovakia, and Hungary. Surpluses will continue to emerge in Belarus, Ukraine, northeastern Romania, and in a vast expanse of western European Russia. The UK and Ireland are expected to transition from deficit to near-normal conditions. After May the forecast indicates a retreat of surpluses and the continued emergence of deficits throughout Europe.
Europe: Water deficits in Scandinavia
Notable water deficits are forecast to persist through February in eastern Norway and in Sweden; and through May in Finland and in Russia east of the White Sea. Eastern Europe will continue a transition to water surplus which will persist through May. A wide area of water surplus is forecast to emerge March through May in Russia from the Gulf of Finland south to Ukraine.