The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) has warned cities and provinces from Quang Tri to Ninh Thuan might face severe drought in the 2012–2013 dry season.

The drought in central and southern localities is caused by a 70–90 percent shortage in this year’s rainfall totals.

NCHMF Director Bui Minh Tang said the coming dry season will last longer than usual. He also warned sea water is infiltrating deep into central region’s coastal areas.

At the end of November 2012, water amount of irrigation lakes in the central region were 20–50 percent less full than usual, while the Central Highlands suffered shortages of 10–15 percent.

A number of provinces, Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh, are grappling with severe shortages of 60–80 percent even though the rainy season has just ended.