East Asia

East Asia: Water deficits forecast to continue in North & Northeast, surpluses in South

East Asia: Water deficits forecast to continue in North & Northeast, surpluses in South

Recent exceptional deficits in Mongolia into Northeast China, on the Korean Peninsula, and in Honshu, Japan are expected to moderate in the near term – August through October – but severe to extreme deficits will continue to emerge in the northeast and moderate deficits will emerge from southern Gansu to the East China Sea. Widespread surpluses are forecast across much of southern China. After October intense deficits in northwestern China will increase in extent, in Xinjiang through Inner Mongolia and Mongolia, and deficits of lesser severity will continue to emerge in the Northeast China and in the North China Plain. 

East Asia: Water deficits forecast for NE China, eastern Sichuan, southern Yunnan

East Asia: Water deficits forecast for NE China, eastern Sichuan, southern Yunnan

Recent widespread exceptional deficits in Mongolia into northeastern China, around the Bohai Sea, and on the Korean Peninsula are forecast to moderate. Severe to exceptional deficits will persist in western Inner Mongolia through early 2018, joined by a broad band of intense deficits that will develop across southern Mongolia westward through central Xinjiang from September on. Moderate to severe deficits will emerge July through September in northeast China, trailing southwest into eastern Sichuan, and in southern Yunnan. Severe to exceptional surpluses are forecast for the southern Yangtze River Basin through September, moderating thereafter.

East Asia: Water deficits will continue to emerge in northeast China & Korea

East Asia: Water deficits will continue to emerge in northeast China & Korea

Mixed conditions across East Asia are expected to continue over the next three months with moderate water deficits in China’s southern provinces of Guizhou and Guangxi persisting throughout the forecast period. Deficits on the Korean peninsula may shift from the vicinity of Incheon and Seoul to cover the majority of North Korea. Northeastern China is expected to develop severe to exceptional deficits that may intensify by the December through February 2018 period. Surpluses are indicated in the near-term for western Tibet but moderating over the extended forecast.

East Asia: Exceptional water deficits forecast for western Inner Mongolia

East Asia: Exceptional water deficits forecast for western Inner Mongolia

A return to near-normal water conditions is forecast for Southeast China from May through July, a change from surpluses observed in prior months. Deficits of varying severity are forecast for Mongolia; western Inner Mongolia, Guangdong, and Yunnan, China; and northern Japan. Surpluses are forecast in Qinghai and in a wide north/south swatch of central Tibet. The forecast for August through October shows a significant retreat of water anomalies in China’s eastern half, with some moderate deficits in Guizhou, Sichuan, and coastal Guangdong.

East Asia: Water deficits to emerge in South Korea, Japan, & persist in Mongolia

East Asia: Water deficits to emerge in South Korea, Japan, & persist in Mongolia

A return to normal water conditions is forecast for Southeast China from April through June – a change from surpluses observed in prior months. Deficits are forecast to emerge in South Korea, Japan, Northeast China, the Shandong Peninsula, Henan, and Shaanxi. Severe to exceptional deficits will persist in southern Mongolia, western Inner Mongolia, the Tarim Basin and eastern Dzungaria regions of southern Xinjiang, and southern Liaoning. Surpluses are forecast for northern Sichuan and much of Qinghai. The forecast for July through September indicates the persistence of deficits in western Inner Mongolia and Mongolia, and the emergence of deficits in the Sichuan Basin.