Helmand River

South Asia: Water deficits in India forecast to diminish

South Asia: Water deficits in India forecast to diminish

The forecast through September indicates that many parts of India will return to normal water conditions. However, deficits are forecast in southern Karnataka and in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Moderate surpluses will increase in Gujarat and western Maharashtra. Widespread, intense surpluses will persist in Afghanistan, and surpluses in Pakistan will shrink but persist.

South Asia: Widespread, intense water deficits forecast for India

South Asia: Widespread, intense water deficits forecast for India

The forecast through June indicates that intense water deficits will emerge throughout much of India south and west of the Gangetic Plain. Intense surpluses are forecast in northern India, northern Pakistan, and much of Afghanistan. Anomalies will reach exceptional intensity in many of these regions. Deficits will emerge in southern Afghanistan and will be severe in the southwest. Surpluses are forecast in Nepal, Bangladesh along the Padma River and in the northeast, and nearby regions of India.

South Asia: Water surpluses forecast to emerge in Afghanistan

South Asia: Water surpluses forecast to emerge in Afghanistan

The forecast through May indicates that exceptional water deficits will shrink in southern India but are expected along the Tungabhadra River through Karnataka and in northern Kerala. Moderate deficits are forecast from Gujarat to Andhra Pradesh, and more intense pockets in Madhya Pradesh. Areas of surplus include northern India and the Gangetic Plain, Bangladesh, Nepal, northern Pakistan and the Indus River system, and Afghanistan.

South Asia: Intense water deficits will increase in Afghanistan

South Asia: Intense water deficits will increase in Afghanistan

Through September, exceptional water deficits will increase in Afghanistan, reaching the southern border to dominate roughly two-thirds of the country. Deficits in southern Pakistan are expected to shrink and moderate; moderate surpluses are forecast along the Indus River in the north. In India, primarily moderate deficits will persist in a wide band across the center of the country, but may be more intense in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Deficits will increase and intensify in southern India. Surpluses in Bangladesh will shrink and downgrade.

South Asia: Intense water deficits will remain widespread in Afghanistan

South Asia: Intense water deficits will remain widespread in Afghanistan

Exceptional water deficits will remain widespread in Afghanistan, while decreasing slightly. Deficits in Pakistan will generally moderate. India will transition from widespread water deficits to milder conditions. However, exceptional deficits are forecast surrounding Chandigarh, moderate deficits in Rajasthan, and intense deficits in the Far Northeast. Surpluses are expected in Jammu and Kashmir, northern Odisha, West Bengal, and along the Tapi River. Intense surpluses are forecast for the Gandaki River in Nepal. Moderate to extreme surpluses are forecast for northern Bangladesh.