Nournews: This autumn, unlike expectations, carries neither the scent of rain-soaked soil nor the sound of thunder. According to the Ministry of Energy, 21 provinces in Iran have experienced no rainfall since the start of the season. Meanwhile, many regions across the country have already been grappling with severe crises of dwindling water resources, drying farmlands, and declining groundwater levels in recent years.
Based on the report’s data, the provinces of Alborz, Qom, Qazvin, Isfahan, South Khorasan, Fars, Kerman, Hormozgan, and Sistan and Baluchestan are facing a 100% decrease in rainfall. Even the northern provinces, such as Gilan and Mazandaran, have not been spared, with precipitation dropping by more than 70% compared to last year. Only Golestan Province stands as an exception, recording a 7% increase in rainfall.
Meteorologists and environmental experts warn that the continuation of this trend could push Iran into a new phase of water crisis—one marked by intense evaporation, land subsidence, and declining quality of agricultural products. Meanwhile, many of the country’s key dams have reached their lowest water storage levels in two decades.
The phenomenon of a “dry autumn” is not merely a natural challenge but also a test of resource management and climate adaptation policies. Experts stress that unless water consumption patterns, agricultural practices, and watershed restoration projects are seriously reformed, next summer could be even more catastrophic.
Now, Iran stands at a critical crossroads: to reconcile with nature—or to face an even longer silence of drought.
NOURNEWS