NIDIS releases flash drought report discussing current understanding and future priorities

Some droughts occur with such rapid onset that it seems as if they appear in a “flash,” rendering them and their consequences hard to predict and prepare for. These flash droughts can have substantial agricultural and economic consequences, including billions of dollars in losses.

In December 2020, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) held a virtual workshop to explore characteristics and definitions of flash drought, and to coordinate and co-develop a research agenda to address its associated management challenges. This new report recaps the event, describing the workshop’s key takeaways and providing a list of priority actions to help both NIDIS and the broader research community advance flash drought research activities and tool development. NIDIS also held a webinar on August 3rd to provide an overview of the report.