The forecast through June indicates that water surpluses in the region will shrink overall, but persist from central Turkey through Syria, northeastern Iraq, western Iran, the Caspian Coast, and Iranian provinces near the Persian Gulf. Exceptional deficits will increase in central Saudi Arabia.
Middle East: Water deficits to retreat
The forecast through March 2020 indicates that water deficits in the region will retreat considerably, leaving pockets in western Turkey and its central Caspian Coast, Georgia and Azerbaijan, and southwestern Saudi Arabia. Intense surpluses will persist from central into northern Syria; around Mosul, Iraq; and along Iran’s Caspian Sea Coast and border with Turkmenistan.
Middle East: Intense water deficits to emerge in Saudi Arabia
The forecast through November indicates that widespread, intense water surpluses will persist in the region from southeastern Turkey and northern Syria through northern Iraq into northwestern Iran, and along the southeastern shore of the Caspian Sea and the Iran-Turkmen border. Exceptional deficits are forecast to emerge in a vast block of central Saudi Arabia.
Middle East: Intense water deficits to emerge in Riyadh Province
The forecast through September indicates that widespread water surpluses will persist from southeastern Turkey through northern Iraq into northwestern Iran and along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Surpluses will remain intense, but conditions of both deficit and surplus are also forecast as transitions occur. Deficits are forecast for the southern Arabian Peninsula and will be especially intense in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.
Middle East: Water surpluses will persist from Syria into Iran
The forecast through August 2019 indicates that, though some areas will begin to transition out of water surplus, widespread surpluses will persist from northern Syria into southern and eastern Turkey, from the Euphrates River in Iraq well into western Iran, and in northern Iran along the Caspian coast and the border with Turkmenistan. Deficits will increase in central Turkey and on the Arabian Peninsula and will include exceptional deficits in central Saudi Arabia.