Iran: Low Rainfall, Above-Normal Temperature Forecast for Winter

Iran Meteorological Organization warned that the country will continue to receive low levels of precipitation until the end of the current Iranian year on March 20, 2018.

According to Davoud Parhizkar, the head of IMO, except for a few regions in the northwestern and southern strips, the average precipitation across the country since the beginning of the current water year (Sept. 23) was 25% lower than the corresponding period last year and 55% lower than the long-term average, ISNA reported.  South Khorasan, Qom, Yazd, Isfahan, Markazi, Kerman, Sistan-Baluchestan, Tehran and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari provinces experienced the largest reduction with between 80-95% less rainfall.

"General precipitation is expected to be lower than normal in all regions of the country by mid-January except a short period of above-normal rainfall in the northern strip and normal rainfall in a few other regions," he said.

The average temperature is also predicted to be up to 1 degree above normal in the majority of the country's areas. It is expected to increase by over 2 degrees above normal in the western strip. In the last two months of the year, rainfall will reach normal levels, but temperatures are expected to drop below normal levels.

The average winter precipitation will be below normal except along the Caspian Sea coasts in the north and the average temperature over the entire season is predicted to be at normal levels or at least 1 degree above normal.