A small number of dams this week showed signs of early dry season releases for hydropower production, but most dams throughout the basin maintained relatively high levels of storage with no restrictions or releases.
The Eyes on Earth Natural Flow Model indicates that 40% of water is missing at the gauge in Chiang Saen, Thailand and just under 48% of water is missing at Vientiane, Laos. Flow restrictions from dams over the course of the last month are the main driver of missing water throughout the mainstream. The amount of missing water is expected to decrease over the coming month as upstream restrictions end and dams prepare for dry season releases.
The headwaters of the Mekong in China and areas in northwestern Laos were extremely wet last week, while severe dryness returned to Cambodia’s floodplain and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
Temperatures were slightly above average in the upper basin and slightly below average in the lower basin.
Source: Mekong Dam Monitor