A new wave of rain and snow has drenched much of Iran, bringing relief to parched regions but leaving experts cautious about the country’s deepening water crisis.
On Wednesday, torrential downpours in southern provinces triggered flood warnings and forced school closures in several cities. Streets in Hormozgan were heavily inundated, while traditional water reservoirs in Fars filled to capacity. In a rare event, the desert city of Kerman witnessed snowfall, an occurrence so unusual that many residents could scarcely recall it happening before.
Northern provinces, including Gilan and Mazandaran, also saw significant rainfall, offering much-needed moisture to the Hyrcanian forests, which recently suffered devastating wildfires due to prolonged dryness.
Iran’s Meteorological Organization issued an orange-level alert, warning of a cold front expected to persist nationwide. Temperatures are forecast to drop by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius across most provinces, and up to 15 degrees in colder regions, from Thursday through Sunday (December 18-21).
Tehran, however, has yet to experience meaningful rainfall. While the current weather has improved air quality in the capital, water shortages remain severe. Nighttime reductions in household water pressure continue as authorities attempt to manage consumption.
Despite the recent precipitation, Iran is enduring its worst drought in half a century. Nationwide rainfall deficits stand at 60%, and inflows to reservoirs have fallen 40% compared to last year. Forecasts suggest winter precipitation may reach normal or slightly above-normal levels, but experts warn this will not offset autumn’s shortfall.
Lake Urmia illustrates the crisis starkly, with satellite images showing only shallow patches of water covering a fraction of its former expanse, with the risk of renewed drying as temperatures rise.
Beyond climate change, years of mismanagement of water resources have compounded the severity of Iran’s water emergency.
