The forecast through June indicates widespread water deficits in the region with exceptional deficits in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, and pockets of Iran and Turkey. Areas of surplus include Iran’s central Zagros Mountains and near Lake Tuz in Turkey.
Middle East: Water deficits will intensify in Georgia
ISciences Worldwide Water Watch List November 2020
Regions forecast to have significant water deficits for the 12-month period of August 2020 through July 2021 include: Venezuela, Estonia, Latvia, Jordan, Quebec (Canada), and the U.S. Southwest. Areas with a forecast of significant water surplus include: China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and southwestern India. This Watch List is based on ISciences Water Security Indicator Model v2 (WSIMv2) run on 5 November 2020.
Middle East: Intense water deficits forecast for Kuwait & nearby regions
The forecast through May indicates that water deficits will downgrade considerably, though an intense pocket will persist around Kuwait and deficits will be severe in Yemen. Surpluses will downgrade overall but exceptional surpluses are forecast for northern Syria; near Mosul, Iraq; along Iran’s Caspian Sea coast northeast of Tehran; and in Khuzestan, Iran.
Middle East: Water deficits forecast to decrease
Water deficits are expected to shrink and downgrade significantly through January with conditions approaching normal in Iraq, Syria, northeastern Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Deficits will intensify in Georgia, and extreme deficits will emerge on the Kura River in Azerbaijan. Intense deficits are also forecast for southern Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and, to a lesser degree, western Turkey and along Turkey’s Black Sea coast.