Which regions of Kazakhstan are expected to face drought – Ministry of Ecology forecast

Tengrinews.kz – Which regions of Kazakhstan are expected to face drought this year? This was revealed by the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Yerlan Nyssanbayev.
Regions at risk
As Yerlan Nyssanbayev stated at a government meeting, May this year is expected to be hot and dry. However, in the grain belt, foothill regions, and the far south of the country, precipitation levels are forecasted to be close to the climatic norm.

“Drought is forecasted in May in the southern part of Kostanay, southwestern part of West Kazakhstan and Mangystau regions, northwestern Kyzylorda, northern Almaty and Zhambyl regions, southern Karaganda, as well as parts of Aktobe, Atyrau, Abai, and Turkistan regions,” the minister said.

According to him, a warm and snowy winter across most of the country provided a good basis for soil moisture. In the northern and central grain-producing regions, moisture reserves in crop fields are mostly satisfactory and optimal. However, the hot April accelerated evaporation processes.

“It is recommended to start sowing work in grain-producing regions earlier than the typical climate dates,” Nyssanbayev added.

Will the drought worsen?
Last year, Kazakhstani meteorologists stated that the past 20 years were the warmest on record. Globally, the 10 warmest years have occurred in this century. Temperatures in Kazakhstan are expected to continue rising at a significant pace. In terms of precipitation, changes will be less pronounced.

“Combining both factors, we see that drought phenomena will intensify in Kazakhstan, especially in the southern and western parts of the country,” said Kazhydromet.

Moreover, precipitation will increasingly come in the form of heavy downpours, which in regions with poor soil cover could lead to intensified erosion.