TEHRAN –Since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2023) till April 27, a total of 178.8 mm of rainfall has been recorded in the country, a 12.8 percent decrease from the long-term average of 205.1 mm, according to Metrological Organization.

However, over the last week, which ended on April 27, the country received a total of 11.9 mm of rain, which shows an increase of 89.9 percent compared to 6.2 mm in the long term.

According to statistics, Sistan-Baluchestan (54.9 percent), Yazd (35.9 percent), South Khorasan (14.7 percent), Golestan (3.6 percent), Kermanshah (1.9 percent), and Hamedan (1.6 percent) are the only provinces that have received more rainfall than the long-term average.

Precipitations have been less than normal in other provinces, with Qazvin province experiencing a 41.3 percent reduction in normal rainfall.

Tehran has also recorded inadequate precipitation receiving 140.7 mm of rain in the current water year which indicates a 38.5 percent decrease in rainfall compared to the long-term average of 228.5 mm.

In the past year that ended on March 19, the amount of rainfall in the country decreased by 26 and 16 percent, respectively, compared to the long-term average, and the previous water year.

Since the beginning of autumn which is the start of the current water year, an average of 118 mm of rain has been recorded nationwide, Ahad Vazifeh, head of the national center for drought and crisis management, said on March 11.

The long-term average recorded last year was equal to 141 mm.

Fars, Hormozgan, Kerman, Semnan, Khorasan Razavi, Qazvin, Alborz, Tehran, Lorestan, and Kohgiluyeh–Boyerahmad provinces have had low rainfall.

Kerman, Qazvin, Tehran, and Alborz provinces have received 50, 39, 33, and 34 percent less rainfall than the long-term average.

Mazandaran, Golestan, Kordestan, and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces have recorded more rainfall compared to the long-term average.

Vazifeh went on to say that the average temperature of the country has been 13.3 °C since the beginning of fall, September 23, which compared to the three-year period figure,11.3 °C, shows the temperature has increased by 2 °C over time.

Since the beginning of winter, the temperature has been 9.1 degrees, while it had been 7.1 degrees in long-term average. The last two months of the fall this year were the hottest months on record in the past 50 years, Vazifeh added.

MT/MG