Water surpluses of varying intensity are forecast in Russia stretching from western European Russia to the Western Siberian Plain through April 2018 and are expected to be exceptional in large pockets of the Volga Basin and between the Upper Ob and Tom Rivers surrounding Novosibirsk from August 2017 through January 2018. In the near-term, August through October, deficit conditions in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are expected to ameliorate, leaving modest deficits. Exceptional surpluses will continue to emerge in northern Kyrgyzstan, including Bishkek.
Mexico, Central America, & the Caribbean: Severe water deficits forecast for Nayarit and Tabasco
Intense water deficits in Mexico and western Cuba are forecast to retreat after July. However, severe to exceptional deficits remain in the forecast for northern Baja, in Nayarit, and peppered along the Gulf of Mexico from Tamaulipas through Tabasco. Surpluses are forecast for the border of Guatemala and Honduras, and in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and western Jamaica. After October deficits will continue to emerge in southern Mexico; surpluses in Central America are forecast to diminish to near-normal conditions.
Canada: Exceptional water deficits to retreat in Prairie Provinces
The near-term forecast through October indicates a significant retreat of exceptional water deficits in the Prairie Provinces. Deficits will persist in central Quebec and southern Newfoundland, and emerge east of the St. Lawrence River, in New Brunswick, and in southern Nova Scotia. Surpluses are expected to persist in central Manitoba west of Lake Winnipeg, a large block of northwestern Saskatchewan into Alberta, southeastern British Columbia, and near Ottawa and west of Toronto. After October conditions will continue to moderate, though some exceptional surpluses will persist.
Middle East: Water deficits on the Arabian Peninsula will moderate after October
Exceptional water deficits in the Middle East are forecast to nearly disappear after October though widespread deficits of lesser intensity will continue to emerge. Until then, however, extreme to exceptional deficits will blanket much of the Arabian Peninsula, Syria, Jordan, Iraq west of the Euphrates, much of Georgia, and a pocket of southwestern Turkey surrounding Antalya. After October significant deficits remain in the forecast for Georgia, northern Saudi Arabia, Iraq west of the Euphrates, pockets of central Iran, and southwestern and eastern Yemen.
Australia & New Zealand: Water deficits to persist in WA, Tasmania, & New Caledonia
Exceptional water deficits observed in recent months over much of Australia should diminish considerably in the near-term and through April 2018. However, significant deficits are forecast through October in: Western Australia from the Hamersley Range to the southernmost tip; southeastern Australia and Tasmania; the north across Northern Territory and Queensland; and, New Caledonia. Deficits may be exceptional north and south of Perth; east of Melbourne; central Tasmania; around the Gulf of Carpentaria; and Darwin. Along Queensland’s northeast coast surpluses will persist near Mackay. Past October moderate deficits will continue to emerge in Victoria and New South Wales.





