The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has recorded river levels increasing by 0.65m between Stung Treng and Prey Veng’s Neak Loeung over the last seven days and forecast an additional rise this week of 0.60m due to torrential rain.
Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB) water levels have increased significantly over the past week but some sections will see a slight drop over the next five days, MRC secretariat said in a press release on June 18.
Heavy downpours throughout the Mekong region that commenced at the beginning of June have contributed to the rise, with recorded river levels at most monitoring stations above long-term averages, said MRC.
“The [Mekong] region has received approximately 60 per cent more rainfall this month when compared to the same period in 2019 and 2020,” said Lam Hong Son, Head of the MRC Secretariat’s Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre, adding that rainfall is predicted to be lower than average in July and about average in August and September.
The MRC continues to monitor water levels across the Mekong region amid erratic weather patterns, said the organisation.
Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) secretary-general So Sophort and Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology spokesman Chan Yutha could not be reached for comment.
According to the ministry’s notice, the water level on June 20 at the Mekong-Stung Treng Hydrological Station was 5.13m. A water level of 10.70m is considered dangerous.
The ministry predicted that the water level at the Mekong-Stung Treng Hydrological Station will drop to 5m on June 21, 4.84m on June 22 and 4.72m on June 23.
It noted the water level on June 20 at the Mekong-Neak Loeung hydrological station was 2.44m, while a water level of 7.50m is considered dangerous.
The ministry predicted that the water level at the Mekong-Neak Loeung hydrological station will increase to 2.51m on June 21, 2.54m on June 22 and will fall to 2.47m on June 23.
From June 16 to 22, Cambodia will be affected by a medium southwest monsoon combined with a low pressure system, which will make the central lowland provinces experience light to medium rainfall and thunderstorms.
The ministry said this effect will also cause provinces adjacent to the Dangrek Mountain range and the northeastern plateau to receive medium to mild rainfall, especially in the northeast and north of the Dangrek Mountains. Thunderstorms will also occur.
