In the city of Serhetabat (formerly Kushka) in southern Mary province of Turkmenistan, snow has been falling for four consecutive days. This unusual weather phenomenon comes as a welcome change for the agricultural sector, which has been suffering from drought for the past three years. According to reports from "Meteozhurnal," from February 25th to 28th, Serhetabat received 28 millimeters of precipitation, resulting in a snow cover of 10 centimeters. This amount of snowfall has not been seen in the region since February 2023. The temperatures have remained below freezing, dropping to a maximum of -4.4 degrees Celsius.
On February 29th, the snowfall continued, and March 1st did not bring the expected spring weather. Instead, the snow cover is predicted to reach 20 centimeters or more. Only on March 2nd and 3rd, a slight warming is anticipated. Additionally, sources from turkmen.news report that there has been above-average snowfall in the Dashoguz province this year as well.
Meteorologists are already making forecasts for the upcoming agricultural season, expecting it to be less dry than in the years 2021-2023. Due to the substantial flow of the Amu Darya River since August 2023, Turkmenistan's reservoirs have filled up above their design capacities for the first time in a long while.
The current precipitation in the southern part of the country is expected to have a positive impact. This trend is likely to continue into spring, with precipitation levels close to or above normal in some areas. However, some farmers may still face difficulties with irrigation. In the lower reaches of the Amu Darya River in the Dashoguz province, water availability will depend on the actual flow of the river. Insufficient precipitation has been accumulated over the winter in the basins of the Vakhsh, Surkhandarya, and Kashkadarya rivers.
Challenges may also arise in the Murghab River valley, where the river is currently low. Serhetabat, located in this valley, is fed by the Kushka River, a tributary of the Murghab. The recent snowfalls have been an exception to the region's usual weather patterns. Prior to this, as of February 25th, only 40% of the February precipitation norm had been recorded, and in January, even less at 37%.
Farmers in Turkmenistan have been severely affected by drought, exacerbated by the dilapidated irrigation systems and the indifference of officials responsible for their maintenance. Some fields in the country are being abandoned because the cotton and wheat sown there are not germinating.
