Pacific Coast of South America: Exceptional Water Deficits for Past 36 Months to Continue

Exceptional water deficits are forecast along much of the Pacific Coast of South America and may be particularly intense in Peru and Chile, as seen in the 6-month map (below left) showing April through September 2015.

The April through September deficits follow an extended period of exceptional deficits, and socioeconomic impacts are intensifying. The 36-month map (below right) shows the composite water anomaly index calculated with observed data and integrated over the three year period from July 2012 through June 2015.