South Asia: Intense water deficits to persist in central India

South Asia: Intense water deficits to persist in central India

Intense water deficits are forecast to persist in central India and western Karnataka through April 2018. In the near-term through January, deficits will continue to emerge across India’s northern half and may be exceptional in Haryana and Punjab; moderate deficits are forecast for Afghanistan and Pakistan. After January deficits will moderate except in central India and western Karnataka. Surpluses reaching exceptional severity are forecast through April in Bangladesh and Indian states to the east, as well as western Bhutan, Nepal, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, and Sri Lanka.

East Asia: Widespread, exceptional water surpluses continue to emerge on Yangtze

East Asia: Widespread, exceptional water surpluses continue to emerge on Yangtze

Water surpluses in the Lower Yangtze are expected to become widespread and exceptional. Exceptional surpluses are also forecast for the Middle and Upper Yellow River, Qinghai, and western Tibet. Intense deficits will continue to emerge in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, deficits in South Korea will increase, and deficits in southeastern China will moderate, except in Fujian. After January exceptional deficits will continue to emerge to form a vast stretch across much of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. Deficits will emerge around the Bohai Sea, and surpluses in the Lower Yangtze will diminish.

United States: Water deficits ahead for South Atlantic States, surpluses Upper Midwest

United States: Water deficits ahead for South Atlantic States, surpluses Upper Midwest

The near-term forecast through January indicates several striking changes from the prior three months: a transition in the Gulf Coast from water surplus to deficit, a broad path of deficits in the South Atlantic States, and surpluses from the Upper Midwest through the Ohio River Valley into the Northeast. In the spring normal water conditions should return to the Ohio River Valley and the Northeast, surpluses will continue to emerge in the Upper Mississippi, and deficits will moderate in the Lower Mississippi, Texas, and the South Atlantic States.

Middle East: Water deficits persist in Sana'a & Aden, Yemen

Middle East: Water deficits persist in Sana'a & Aden, Yemen

Exceptional water deficits are forecast to nearly disappear in the near-term leaving primarily moderate to severe deficits across the region. Severe deficits are forecast November through January along stretches of the Euphrates River, and deficits of greater intensity are expected along Turkey’s northern coast and in southwestern and southeastern Yemen. Overall, water deficits will diminish slightly in extent and intensity from February through April.

Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean: Water surplus to persist in Nicaragua

Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean: Water surplus to persist in Nicaragua

Though intense water surpluses will persist in Central America, the extent of exceptional surpluses will diminish. Deficits will continue to emerge in pockets across northern Mexico, diminishing in Sonora but emerging with greater severity in Chihuahua. Surpluses in northern Coahuila and Nuevo Leon will begin to transition to both deficit and surplus. Moderate deficits will emerge in southern Mexico and Guatemala. After January, exceptional deficits are expected to emerge in Jalisco, Mexico, and deficits across the northern states will diminish.