Iran may finally see a break from its unusually dry autumn, as the country’s meteorological authorities signal the arrival of more substantial rainfall beginning in mid-December.
According to the National Center for Climate and Drought Crisis Management, the second half of December is expected to bring a notable shift in weather patterns, with both increased rainfall and a gradual drop in temperatures.
In an interview with Shana, the Oil Ministry’s website, Ahad Vazifeh, head of the center, offered a cautiously optimistic outlook. While light rain is expected this week, he stressed that the approaching system is “weak” and unlikely to significantly affect current dry conditions.
“We should not expect much from this wave,” he said, noting that its impact will be minimal. The more meaningful change, he explained, is forecast for mid-Azar, when a stronger and broader rain system is expected to enter the country. This incoming wave is likely to stretch across western regions and into parts of central Iran.
“If we take the optimistic view, it could be a good rainfall system affecting multiple areas,” Vazifeh said. The anticipated precipitation is also expected to push temperatures downward, though not drastically.
Vazifeh stated that while a cooling trend is likely, residents should not expect extreme drops such as sub-zero temperatures in Tehran within the next two weeks. “Any rainfall naturally brings a decrease in temperature,” he said, but emphasized that the cooling will be moderate.
Iran has endured a notably dry and rain-poor autumn this year—an outcome consistent with long-term climate patterns that increasingly point toward more frequent seasonal volatility.
While current forecasts suggest that precipitation may return to near-normal levels during winter, particularly in January, the outlook is not uniform across the country.
Vazifeh cautioned that some eastern regions may continue to experience below-average rainfall even during the winter months.
As Iran navigates the early stages of the cold season, the promised mid-December rainfall offers a degree of relief—but also underlines the growing urgency of long-term water resource planning amid persistent climatic unpredictability.
