Weekly Dry Season Situation Report in the Lower Mekong River Basin – 1-7 February 2022

Key Messages
Key messages for this weekly report are presented below.
Rainfall and its forecast
• During 1-7 February 2022, rainfall was detected in the Mekong River Basin (MRB), varied from 1.00 mm to 19.00 mm.
• There will be some rain for the next 7 days over the Mekong region from 8 to 14 February 2022 due to low-pressure line dominating some parts in the LMB.
Water level and its forecast
• The MRC’s observed water level at Jinghong showed a stable level during the weekly monitoring period from 1 to 7 Feb 2022 (recorded on 7:00 am) and stayed about 0.36 m lower than its two-year average (2020-2021) value. The outflow at Jinghong station was about 807.00 m3/s from 1 to 7 February 2022.
• Amid the sudden decreased outflow from Jinghong upstream, water level of monitoring station at Chiang Saen in Thailand increased about 0.03 m from 1 to 7 Feb 2022 and remained 0.14 m higher than its long-term average (LTA), considered normal. Water level at Lao PDR’s Luang Prabang increased about 0.08 m compared with last week and stayed 0.02 m higher than its historical maximum value. WLs at the monitoring stations from Chiang Khan in Thailand to Vientiane of Lao PDR, however, significantly decreased, dropping about 0.50 m; which remained higher than their LTA value. Water levels from Nong Khai in Thailand to Paksane in Lao PDR decreased about 0.35 m and 0.49 m respectively and dropped close to their historical minimum level, considered critical. Also, WLs from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom to Lao PDR’s Pakse decreased about 0.60 m and stayed lower than their LTA level. The current WL at Savannakhet in Lao PDR dropped close to its historical minimum level, which is still considered critical. Water levels from the stretches of the river from Stung Treng to Kompong Cham in Cambodia slightly decreased, while WL at Chaktomuk, Koh Khel, Prek Kdam increased about 0.20 m due to some contributed rainfall from the upstream part (The Tonle Sap Lake area).
• The water volume of the Tonle Sap Lake up to 7 Feb 2022 was lower than its LTA but higher than the levels in 2019, 2020 and 2021 during the report period, and still considered critical.
• Water levels at Tan Chau and Chau Doc remained fluctuating between their Minimum and Maximum values due to the tidal process.
• Over the next seven days, the water levels across the monitoring stations are expected to go down from Khong Chiam in Thailand to Kompong Cham in Cambodia. Water levels at some stations currently remain higher than their long-term average value, while the others remain lower. Drought condition and its forecast
• Drought conditions of the LMB from 30 January to 05 February 2022 were normal all over the LMB except some moderate drought in the northeast and southern parts due to severely dry soil moistures during the beginning of dry season. The region showed no significant threat except some moderate and severe dry soil moistures which are normal during dry season.
• For the upcoming three-month forecast, the LMB is likely to receive average rainfall and under normal conditions in February and March while receive relatively high amount of rain in April 2022. Based on the rainfall forecasts, April is likely to be much wetter than normal year especially in the north and central parts of the LMB.

Source: Mekong River Commission