East Asia

China, Mongolia, & South Korea: Drought to persist in northern China, Mongolia; diminish in S. Korea

Deficit conditions in North China including the North China Plain and Mongolia are expected to dominate the 12-month period July 2015 through June 2016, with some areas experiencing both deficits and surpluses. Widespread surpluses are forecast for Southeast China, which may be of exceptional severity in Fujian and along the Pearl River (Zhujiang). However, both deficits in the North and surpluses in the South are forecast to diminish in severity during the latter part of the forecast period.

China, Mongolia, South Korea, Japan: Drought in Northern China, Mongolia, S. Korea; Flooding in Japan

Widespread deficits may continue in North China and Mongolia. Widespread surpluses are forecast for Southeast China and southern Honshu, Japan. Deficits are forecast for northern Honshu and for Hokkaido, Japan. Exceptional deficits may persist in South Korea before diminishing somewhat in severity beginning in February 2016.