South Asia

South Asia: Water surpluses forecast to persist in Bangladesh and Nepal

South Asia: Water surpluses forecast to persist in Bangladesh and Nepal

The near-term forecast through October indicates that exceptional deficits will nearly disappear in India but moderate to severe deficits will continue to emerge, covering much of the north/south extent of the country. Surpluses are forecast for Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and Mizoram. Deficits are forecast for southern Afghanistan, central and southern Pakistan, and eastern Bhutan. Exceptional surpluses will continue to emerge in much of Bangladesh and central Nepal. Deficits in Sri Lanka will ameliorate, leaving moderate deficits in the east. Beyond October primarily moderate deficits will continue to emerge in central India through April 2018.

South Asia: Water deficits forecast for Madhya Pradesh through Chhattisgarh

South Asia: Water deficits forecast for Madhya Pradesh through Chhattisgarh

The forecast through September indicates the emergence of moderate to extreme water deficits throughout much of India, which may be most intense from Madhya Pradesh to Odisha, and from southern Maharashtra down through Karnataka into Tamil Nadu. Severe to exceptional deficits are expected to persist in southwestern Afghanistan. Surpluses are forecast east of Kabul, Afghanistan, along the Indus River north of Islamabad, northeastern Jammu and Kashmir, along the Gandaki River in Nepal, and in Bangladesh. From October through December primarily moderate deficits are forecast for India’s northern half, and near-normal conditions in the south. In early 2018 intense deficits may develop in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

South Asia: Some water surplus to persist in Bangladesh; deficits in Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand

South Asia: Some water surplus to persist in Bangladesh; deficits in Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand

In the June through August forecast period water conditions are largely moderate across the sub-continent. Moderate to severe water deficits may develop in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the north of India and Tamil Nadu in the south. Surplus flows are expected in the Indus River and moderate to severe surpluses may persist over Bangladesh. Conditions moderate in the mid forecast period though surpluses may develop in Jammu & Kashmir September through February 2018 and exceptional deficits may develop in south and central Gujarat in the final forecast period extending into 2018.  

South Asia: Water deficits forecast for Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, coastal Maharashtra

South Asia: Water deficits forecast for Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, coastal Maharashtra

Water conditions in the region are forecast to improve considerably in the next three months. In general, deficits in India are expected to downgrade in intensity though severe to extreme deficits are forecast in the south, affecting Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, and coastal Maharashtra. Deficits will diminish in Pakistan as well. Moderate to exceptional deficits are forecast for western Afghanistan. Exceptional surpluses will persist in Jammu and Kashmir, and moderate to extreme surpluses in eastern Afghanistan, northeastern Pakistan, and northeastern Bangladesh. Surpluses are also forecast along the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal. Overall, deficits in the region will continue to diminish after July.

South Asia: Severe to exceptional water deficits forecast for central & southern India

South Asia: Severe to exceptional water deficits forecast for central & southern India

Severe to exceptional water deficits are forecast to emerge April through June across central and southern India. Deficits will also emerge near Karachi, Pakistan and will continue to emerge in western Pakistan. Surpluses are forecast in Jammu and Kashmir, eastern Afghanistan, and along the northern Indus River in Pakistan. From July through September deficits in India will decrease in intensity but increase in extent as deficits emerge in the Chambal River watershed. Severe to extreme deficits will persist in Madhya Pradesh. Moderate to severe deficits are also forecast to emerge throughout Bangladesh.