The forecast for April 2024 expects significant water deficits for the 12-month period of January 2024 through December 2024 in South America, northeastern Africa, and the Middle East. Areas expected to experience surplus include eastern to eastern Africa, northern Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
East Asia: Exceptional deficits continue in N, NW China
Southeast Asia and the Pacific: Surplus spreads throughout Maritime SE Asia
South Asia: Surplus expands throughout India
Central Asia & Russia: Surpluses emerge in SW Russia
The forecast indicates that widespread exceptional deficits in western Russia will mostly subside, though similarly intense deficits will emerge in southeastern Russia. Surpluses are expected to dissipate in east-central Russia in areas near Lake Baikal, with surpluses of equal intensity emerging in southwestern Russia and northern Uzbekistan.