Iran to probably face drought this year: expert

TEHRAN – Iran will probably experience drought over the current [Iranian calendar] year (began on March 21), as only four provinces out of 31 provinces of the country received normal rainfall last year, director of flood control at Forests, Rangelands, and Watershed Management Organization said.

Rainfall drops sharply in 4 months on year

TEHRAN – Precipitation in Iran amounted to 65.8 millimeters from the beginning of the current water year (September 22, 2020) until January 19, which demonstrates a 44 percent decline compared to the same period last [Iranian calendar] year.

Autumn precipitation at normal level in Iran

TEHRAN – Precipitation in Iran amounted to 66 millimeters during autumn, 10 percent higher than the long-term average and 14 percent lower than the autumn last [Iranian calendar] year.

Autumn seen with lower than normal rainfall

TEHRAN – Precipitation in Iran is expected to meet normal or lower than normal averages over autumn, Ahad Vazifeh, head of the national center for drought and crisis management, said.

Rainfall in Iran 33% higher than long-term average

TEHRAN – Since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2019), the whole country received 282 mm of rainfall, which is 31.8 percent higher compared to the past 51 years, which was recorded at 213.9 mm.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iran climate: wet spell or still short of rain?

TEHRAN – While some experts claim that Iran has entered a period of the wet spell after experiencing dry spells over the past few decades, some others highly reject the claim implying that the country faced a lack of rain by 50mm over the past 5 decades.

Rainfall in Tehran hits 69-year record high

TEHRAN – Rainfall doused the capital city of Tehran over the past two days, reaching 55.5 millimeters, which was unprecedented in the past 69 years.

Precipitation rate rises by 22% in a water year

TEHRAN – Rainfall has reached above normal levels in Iran as the country received 22 percent more rainfall since the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2019) compared to the long run, head of the National Drought and Monitoring Center of the Meteorological Organization has announced.

Precipitations hit normal, above-normal levels in a month

TEHRAN – Precipitations have reached normal and above-normal levels in Iran as the country has experienced 70.8 percent rise in rainfall since the beginning of the current water year (September 23) compared to the long-term mean.

Mighan wetland hosts migratory birds once again

TEHRAN – Mighan wetland in central province of Markazi has returned back to life due to above normal rainfall and is now home to flocks of migratory birds which come to spend the winter, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

Will Iran experience above-normal rainfall during autumn?

TEHRAN – According to the forecasts, El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is in a neutral phase during autumn, not contributing to a rise in precipitations in the country, especially during autumn and winter, Iman Babaeian, head of the climatological research institute affiliated to Iran’s Meteorological Organization has said.

Shadegan wetland water level rises after heavy rain

TEHRAN – Shadegan wetland fully filled after heavy rainfall poured over the province of Khuzestan during spring, Ahmad Lahijanzadeh, head of marine environment affairs at the DOE has said.

Wildfire risk increases in Zagros foothills

TEHRAN – Following heavy rainfall doused the country during the past months, vegetation has covered vast areas of Zagros forest in southwestern part of the country, which easily ignites when temperature level gets higher and wildfire risk increases.

Will Iran set all-time heat records this summer?

TEHRAN – Following torrential rain and flooding in the country, some experts say that this summer will beat the heat records, with sweltering temperatures scattering around the country.

Colorful butterflies flap wings across the capital

TEHRAN – Great numbers of butterflies are taking to the skies of the capital, following rainy periods, Tehran City Council member has stated.

Namak Lake not to generate SDSs this year: official

TEHRAN – Namak Lake, located in the central Qom province, will not be a hotspot for sand and dust storms (SDSs) for a year due to the recent rainfall which moisturized the soil, Masoud Baqerzadeh Karimi, the director general of aquatic ecosystems at the Department of Environment has said.

Rainfall brings drought-hit southeastern Iran back to life

TEHRAN – Long battled with drought, the southeastern province of Kerman benefits from heavy rainfall which filled the province’s water resources and quenched pastures’ thirst, despite causing damages to the infrastructure and farms, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Water level in dams steadily rising due to heavy rainfalls

TEHRAN – The water level in dams is rising steadily following heavy rainfalls in most provinces across the country, as water behind dams has increased by 63 percent until April 30 compared to the same time last year, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Wetter-than-normal year not to make up for prolonged drought

TEHRAN – Hassan Sasani, an official with Isfahan regional water company, emphasized the urgency to tackle water scarcity in central parts of the country, noting that longstanding drought will not be eased by a year of above-normal precipitations.

Heavy rainfalls boost Iranian hydropower output by 5GW

TEHRAN – Recent heavy rainfalls in Iran has increased the electricity output of the country’s hydropower plants by up to 5,000 megawatts, IRNA reported on Monday quoting an official with Iran’s Power Generation and Distribution Company (known as TAVANIR).

Recent rainfall reduces SDSs in north central Iran

TEHRAN – Recent rainfall has greatly reduced the risk of sand and dust storms (SDSs) raising from major hotspots in north central province of Qom during summer, the provincial chief of department of environment has stated.

Heavy rainfalls revive drying Lake Urmia

TEHRAN – Recent downpours causing flood that recently left many provinces of Iran submerged, have made the world’s second largest saltwater lake come back to life, as the water level of the northwestern Lake Urmia has raised dramatically.

Precipitation forecast to reach above normal in next 3 months

TEHRAN – The country is predicted to receive above normal rainfall over the next three months (February 20-May 21), head of the climatological research institute affiliated to Iran’s Meteorological Organization has said.

‘Cloud seeding increase rainfall by 25%’

TEHRAN – Cloud seeding has resulted in a 25-percent increase in precipitation rates over the country, Farid Golkar, head of the National Cloud Seeding Research Center has announced.