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Weekly Dry Season Situation Report in the Lower Mekong River Basin - 12-18 April 2022

Countries
Cambodia
+ 3 more
Sources
MRC
Publication date
Origin
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Key Messages

Key messages for this weekly report are presented below.

Rainfall and its forecast

  • This week, rainfall was observed from Chiang Saen in Thailand to Tan Chau in Viet Nam, varied from 0.80 mm to 78.70 mm over the Mekong region.

  • There will be rain for the next 7 days over the Mekong region from 19 to 25 April 2022.

Water level and its forecast

  • According to MRC’s observed data, water level (WL) at Jinghong decreased about 1.00 m from 12 to 18 April 2022 and stayed 2.08 m lower than its two-year average (2020-2021) value.

  • From 12 to 18 April 2022, water level of monitoring station at Chiang Saen in Thailand decreased about 0.68 m but was still about 0.10 m higher than its long-term average (LTA), considered normal. Water level at Lao PDR’s Luang Prabang decreased about 0.11 m and about 0.11 m lower than its historical maximum value. Water level at the monitoring stations at Chaing Khan and Vientiane remained about 2.04 m and 1.86 m higher than their LTA value, considered normal. Water levels at Nong Khai in Thailand and Paksane in Lao PDR were staying about 0.80 m higher than their LTA value, which considered normal at this stage. Water levels from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom to Pakse in Lao PDR were remaining higher than their LTA level. The water levels at these stations were considered normal. Water levels from Cambodia’s Stung Treng to Kompong Cham were staying higher than their LTA value. Water levels from Chaktomuk and Koh Khel on the Bassac River and and Prekdam on the Tonle Sap River and also at Neak Luong on the Mekong were decreasing but still staying higher than their LTA value.

  • The water volume of the Tonle Sap Lake up to 18 April 2022 was higher than its LTA and higher than the levels in 2019, 2020 and 2021 during the report period, and considered normal.

  • For the tidal stations at Viet Nam’s Tan Chau and Chau Doc, WLs fluctuated between their LTA and Minimum levels at Chau Doc, due to daily tidal effects from the sea and considered as critical.

  • Over the next seven days, the water levels across the monitoring stations are expected to go up from Chaing Khan to downstream from Nakhon Phanom to Pakse and from Stung Treng to Chaktomuk and Prek Kdam in Cambodia

  • The current water levels that are higher than or about its maximum value is found at Luang Prabang, while the rest are higher than their LTA level.

Drought condition and its forecast

  • Drought conditions of the LMB from 10 to 16 April 2022 were moderately dry in some areas of the middle part covering Thailand and normal in other places. The moderate drought was caused by below-average rainfall during the week. All moderate and severe soil moistures in the past weeks have disappeared due to accumulated rainfall starting from the second week of March. The region showed no significant threat.

  • For the upcoming three months’ forecasts, the LMB is likely to receive ample amount of rainfall in April and May, while it receives below average rain in June 2022 from the middle to the lower parts. Based on the weather forecast, May is likely to be much wetter than normal year especially in the north and central parts of the LMB.