The forecast through September indicates the emergence of moderate to extreme water deficits throughout much of India, which may be most intense from Madhya Pradesh to Odisha, and from southern Maharashtra down through Karnataka into Tamil Nadu. Severe to exceptional deficits are expected to persist in southwestern Afghanistan. Surpluses are forecast east of Kabul, Afghanistan, along the Indus River north of Islamabad, northeastern Jammu and Kashmir, along the Gandaki River in Nepal, and in Bangladesh. From October through December primarily moderate deficits are forecast for India’s northern half, and near-normal conditions in the south. In early 2018 intense deficits may develop in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
South Asia: Some water surplus to persist in Bangladesh; deficits in Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand
In the June through August forecast period water conditions are largely moderate across the sub-continent. Moderate to severe water deficits may develop in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the north of India and Tamil Nadu in the south. Surplus flows are expected in the Indus River and moderate to severe surpluses may persist over Bangladesh. Conditions moderate in the mid forecast period though surpluses may develop in Jammu & Kashmir September through February 2018 and exceptional deficits may develop in south and central Gujarat in the final forecast period extending into 2018.
South Asia: Water deficits forecast for Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, coastal Maharashtra
Water conditions in the region are forecast to improve considerably in the next three months. In general, deficits in India are expected to downgrade in intensity though severe to extreme deficits are forecast in the south, affecting Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, and coastal Maharashtra. Deficits will diminish in Pakistan as well. Moderate to exceptional deficits are forecast for western Afghanistan. Exceptional surpluses will persist in Jammu and Kashmir, and moderate to extreme surpluses in eastern Afghanistan, northeastern Pakistan, and northeastern Bangladesh. Surpluses are also forecast along the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal. Overall, deficits in the region will continue to diminish after July.
South Asia: Severe to exceptional water deficits forecast for central & southern India
Severe to exceptional water deficits are forecast to emerge April through June across central and southern India. Deficits will also emerge near Karachi, Pakistan and will continue to emerge in western Pakistan. Surpluses are forecast in Jammu and Kashmir, eastern Afghanistan, and along the northern Indus River in Pakistan. From July through September deficits in India will decrease in intensity but increase in extent as deficits emerge in the Chambal River watershed. Severe to extreme deficits will persist in Madhya Pradesh. Moderate to severe deficits are also forecast to emerge throughout Bangladesh.
South Asia: Water deficits forecast in Gujarat, surpluses in eastern Afghanistan
The March through May forecast indicates some relief from water deficit conditions for many parts of India. However, severe to extreme deficits are forecast to persist in Gujarat and moderate deficits are forecast in Uttarakhand, southern India, and Sri Lanka. Surpluses ranging from moderate to exceptional are forecast for the eastern Ganges Basin, the eastern two-thirds of Nepal, and Bangladesh. Surpluses are also expected along the northern tributaries of the Indus River in Pakistan and in eastern Afghanistan.