Southeast Asia and the Pacific: Severe to Exceptional Water Deficits through January 2016

Moderate to severe water deficits are forecast to continue in much of Southeast Asia and the Pacific through January 2016, with portions of central Vietnam and Southern Thailand being hit the hardest. Widespread exceptional deficits occur starting in May 2015 and continuing at least through November 2015 for much of the island that includes Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of Papua. Similar deficits are also forecast for the Sabah province of South Malaysia, the Indonesian province of Kalimantan Timur, and the Philippine Island of Mindanao beginning in Malaysia and Philippines in May, spreading south into Indonesia in July, and peaking in September 2015. The composite anomaly water index map in the figure compares June through November to the same 6-month historical period, and illustrates the overall magnitude and extent of the forecast deficits.

WSIM Composite Water Anomaly Index for Jun through Nov 2015

WSIM Composite Water Anomaly Index for Jun through Nov 2015

This blog post presents results from our May “WSIM Global Water Monitor and Forecast” report. This report is based on observed temperature and precipitation through April 2015 and an ensemble of 28 temperature and precipitation forecasts issued by NOAA's CFSv2 the last week of April 2015.