Last Week’s Situations

Last week, May 3-10, water levels (WLs) along the lower Mekong River in Thailand’s Chiang Saen slightly increased about 0.06 metres and about 1.35 metres higher than its long-term-average (LTA). The WL at Lao PDR’s Luang Prabang was increased about 0.33 metres, compared with last week and stay higher than its historical maximum (Max) values about 1. 71 metres due to the influence of rainfall and dam operations upstream and Xayaburi. WLs at the monitoring stations at Chiang Khan in Thailand increased about 0.04 metres and stay about 2.31 metres above its LTA, while at Vientiane in Lao PDR increased 0.15 metres and stay about 0.08 metres below its Max value. This high-water level is probably due to the influence of upstream dam operation of Xayaburi Dam and rainfall from upstream. For Nong Khai, water level increased 0.22 metres and stay about 1.22 metres above its LTA. WL at Lao PDR’s Paksane increased 0.29 metres and about 0.92 metres higher than its LTA. This high-water level is probably due to the influence of upstream dam operation and rainfall. WLs at Nakhon Phanom to Sovannakhet in Thailand and Lao PDR increased about 0.18 metres, during this week, while at Pakse in Laos decreased about 0.07 metres. WLs at these stations are about 1.05 metre above their LTAs. WLs in Cambodia’s Stung Treng, Kratie and Kompong Cham slightly decreased and 0.20 metres and stay about 1 metre higher than their LTAs. WL at Neak Luong on the Mekong River and Koh Khel on the Bassac River followed the tidal effect fluctuated about 0.15 metres from 3 to 10 May and stay higher than its LTA. At Chaktomuk on the Bassac River, water levels decreased 0.47 metres and still stay close with its LTA. For water level at Prek Kdam on the Tonle Tonle Sap (TLS) River decreased about 0.29 metres and stay close to its LTA. For the TLS Lake (observed at Kompong Luong) is expressing the same trend as at Prek Kdam station. For the tidal stations at Viet Nam’s Tan Chau and Chau Doc, due to daily tidal effects from the sea, WLs fluctuated out of the normal long-term range between maximum and minimum during this week which still considered as a critical condition.

Next week’s Situations

Next week, from May 10-17, WLs along the lower Mekong River from Thailand’s Chiang Saen will decrease about 0.05 metres, but still stay above its LTA, while water level at Lao PDR’s Luang Prabang will decrease 0.03 metres and stay higher than its Maximum level. From Thailand’s Chiang Khan to Lao PDR’s Vientiane will increase about 0.10 metres, follow the last week trends from upstream and remain above their LTAs. Also, water levels at Nong Khai and Paksane will continue to stay above their LTAs. WLs from Nakhon Phanom to Pakse in Thailand and Lao PDR will decrease and expect to continue and stay above their LTAs. From Cambodia’s Stung Treng, Kratie and Kompong Cham water levels will decrease and still stay above their LTAs, while at Neak Luong on the Mekong River, Koh Khel on the Bassac River will follow the same trend of tidal from the sea. At Chaktomuk on the Bassac and Prekdam on the Tonle Sap River will increase about 0.10 metres and stay higher than their LTAs. Also, the WL of TLS Lake will follow the same trend as Prekdam’s level. For the tidal stations at Viet Nam’s Tan Chau and Chau Doc will likely fluctuate above their LTAs, effected by the tidal process.

For more details on the near-real-time monitoring data for each station click here