The Mekong River water level is unusually low.

According to a report by MDM (Mekong Hydropower Dam Monitoring Project), river levels along the Thai-Lao border are beginning to approach normal levels. However, due to low rainfall and hydropower dams throughout the basin accumulating water, the Mekong River water level at Stung Treng (Cambodia) is currently 1.5m lower than the average, and the Tonle Sap River water level (Cambodia) is also 2m lower than average. Currently, only 5,500 ^km² are flooded, equivalent to 37% of the average flooded area over many years.

Total water volume through the Kratie station from June 1st to July 6th, 2023

Citing data from the International Mekong River Commission, the Southern Institute of Water Resources Science (SIWRP) reported that at the Kratie station (Cambodia), the total water volume from June 1st to July 6th, 2023, was only 19.71 billion cubic meters. This is approximately 10.59 billion cubic meters less than the multi-year average for the same period (1961-2022). Compared to 2022, it is 14.7 billion cubic meters less. And compared to the year with the first El Niño event, 2019, it is about 0.63 billion cubic meters less.

The water level at Kratie on July 6th was 10.28m, which is 2.75m lower than the multi-year average, 1.16m lower than in 2022, and 0.6m lower than in 2019.

Similarly, the water level at Tonle Sap Lake reached 1.65m; 2.49m lower than the multi-year average, 0.98m lower than in 2019, but 0.23m higher than in 2019.

At Tan Chau station (on the Tien River), the highest water level on July 5th reached 1.45m; this is 0.09m lower than the average for the same period in previous years, 0.06m higher than in 2022, and 0.09m higher than in 2019.

At the Chau Doc station (on the Hau River), the highest water level on July 5th reached 1.67m, which is 0.23m higher than the average for the same period in previous years, 0.2m higher than in 2022, and 0.2m higher than in 2019.

Water levels at the two upstream stations of the Mekong River are generally higher than the same period in previous years due to the influence of both the Mekong River's water flow from upstream and the tidal regime. Currently, water levels in the upstream Mekong River are also decreasing due to the low tide period.

SIWRP reports that water levels at upstream stations of the Mekong River remained relatively low by the end of June. At Tonle Sap Lake, water levels were only comparable to those of 2015 and 2019 – years with very low early-season flood levels and El Niño events. However, the forecast for July rainfall in the basin is expected to be higher than the multi-year average, suggesting that upstream water levels may improve by the end of the month. Specifically, the forecast for flood levels at Tan Chau at the end of July is 2.2m. Essentially, this level is unlikely to affect summer-autumn and autumn-winter rice production areas in the upstream Mekong River region.

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