TEHRAN –Since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2023) till August 16, rainfall across the country amounted to 248.4 millimeters, showing a 19-percent increase compared to the same period last year, the Metrological Organization reported.

Data also shows a two-percent increase compared to 243.1 mm of rain received in the long term, IRNA reported.

The persistence of low rainfall in autumn was alarming, but rainfall amounts in winter and spring changed the situation.

Despite increased rainfall, some provinces are still suffering from water shortages.

Precipitations close to normal

In June, the head of the Metrological Organization said, “After four years of consecutive low precipitations, the amount of average rainfall is getting close to normal long-term figures.”

“Currently, the country is witnessing less than one millimeter, about 0.3 percent, short of long-term rainfall,” IRIB quoted Sahar Tajbakhsh as saying.

According to available statistics, South Khorasan, Sistan-Baluchestan, and Yazd provinces have so far received more than 30 percent of the long-term rainfall in the current water year, she added.

Other provinces like Ardabil, Isfahan, Ilam, North Khorasan, Khuzestan, Qom, Kordestan, Kermanshah, Golestan, and Mazandaran have experienced between 2 up to 29 percent more than normal rains.

However, East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Alborz, Bushehr, Tehran, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Khorasan Razavi, Zanjan, Semnan, Fars, Qazvin, Kerman, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Gilan, Markazi, and Hormozgan provinces have received between 1 and 30 percent less rainfall than normal.

Tehran, Semnan, and Qazvin provinces have received the lowest amount of precipitation.

Transition into La Niña or neutral conditions?

According to recent forecasts, there is the possibility of either neutral conditions or a transition into La Niña.

Concerning the fact that the cycle is currently moving from El Niño to La Niña, Sadeq Ziaeian, an official with national center for forecasting  Iran metrological organization, said: “There is over 60 percent chance for neutral conditions and 38 percent chance for experiencing La Niña in the country by August 20,” ISNA reported.

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate phenomenon that has three parts  El Niño,  La Niña,  and neutral phases.

El Niño and La Niña are opposite extremes of the ENSO, which refers to cyclical environmental conditions that occur across the Equatorial Pacific Ocean.

La Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.

These changes are due to natural interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere. Sea surface temperature, rainfall, air pressure, and atmospheric and ocean circulation all influence each other.

Ziaeian pointed out that in addition to the ENSO, other cyclonic events such as Acetic Oscillation (AO), North Atlantic Oscillation,  (NAO), Madden-Jullian Oscillation (MJO), and the Indian Ocean bipolar affect Iran's atmospheric condition.

Under optimal conditions, when La Niña dominates, there is a 60 percent likelihood that the fall season in Iran begins later, and the probability of facing a dry year increases.

MT/MG