NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
Global Drought Information System
This Global Drought Narrative is based on global drought indicators available at the Global Drought Information System, and media reports summarized by the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Global Drought Overview
Overview: GDIS global indicators revealed beneficial precipitation fell across parts of the world during July 2024, while other parts continued dry. Dry conditions continued to plague South America, which had the driest July on record, continent-wide, based on the 1940-2024 ECMWF ERA5 Reanalysis dataset; the Mediterranean region had the 26th driest July and Africa the 46th driest. Relentless heat continued, with July 2024 ranking as the warmest July on record worldwide and for several continents, based on 1910-2024 NOAA/NCEI data — the continents included Africa, Asia, and Europe. The excessive heat increased evapotranspiration which exacerbated the drought conditions.
A significant portion of the world's agricultural lands was still suffering from low soil moisture and groundwater levels — especially in the Americas, Africa, eastern Europe, and parts of Asia — and satellite observations showed stressed vegetation on most continents. The GEOGLAM Crop Monitor indicated that agriculture was most threatened in parts of Central and South America, Africa, Europe, southwest Russia, southern Australia, northeastern China, and southeast Asia. The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNet) revealed significant food insecurity continuing in parts of Central and South America, Southwest Asia, and much of Africa. GEOGLAM statistics estimated about a fourth (25%) of the global maize (corn) crop and a third (36%) of the global wheat crop were under poor or drought watch conditions at the end of July.
Europe
Much of Europe was warmer than normal in July. The month was drier than normal in eastern and southern parts of the continent, over parts of the British Isles, and far northern parts of Scandinavia, and wetter than normal in between, based on the 1-month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Continent-wide, Europe had the warmest July in the 1910-2024 NOAA/NCEI temperature record and 31st wettest July in the 1940-2024 ECMWF ERA5 Reanalysis precipitation record. Longer time scale SPI maps show dryness persisting in eastern parts of the continent (1 to 3 months), parts of Scandinavia (2 to 9 months), and across the Mediterranean (1 to 72 months). Like the Mediterranean region, parts of Southeast Europe have been dry for most of the last 6 years. Anomalous warmth has plagued Europe over extended periods. April-July 2024 ranked as the second warmest such 4-month period, but all 11 of the other time periods from July back through August-July were the warmest on record. The hot temperatures increased evapotranspiration (as seen on the Evaporative Demand Drought Index [EDDI] and Evaporative Stress Index [ESI] maps) which exacerbated the drought conditions — especially in the south, east, and north. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) maps show much more intense and widespread drought than the SPI maps, especially in the Mediterranean and out to longer time scales (1-4 years). The Mediterranean region had the second hottest and 26th driest July, but the hottest and tenth driest August-July (last 12 months), based on ECMWF ERA5 data. Satellite observations (GRACE) indicated depleted soil moisture continued across the eastern half of Europe, as well as along the Mediterranean coast and in Scandinavia. GRACE data also indicated depleted groundwater in these areas. However, satellite observations of vegetative health (Vegetative Health Index, VHI) revealed generally healthy vegetation due likely to beneficial precipitation of recent months, except in some areas in the south and east. The European Combined Drought Indicator showed drought warnings or alerts across much of eastern Europe, the Mediterranean coastal area, and parts of northern Europe.
According to media reports (Dagens.com), European agriculture is facing severe challenges as record-breaking temperatures and prolonged droughts impact key food-producing regions. The Olive Press reported that, in Spain, the Valencian Community is expected to produce its lowest wine grape harvest for 30 years, due to the ongoing drought. La Unio Llaurador, which represents Valencian farmers, says this year's yield of white and muscatel grapes will be well down on normal expectations. It suggests that wine grape production will fall on last year's numbers and around 42% lower than the average yield of the last 30 years. Reuters reported that most of Greece has seen little or no rain in months. Now, as the country's islands prepare to host a record number of summer tourists, the strain on water supplies has rarely been heavier, officials, farmers and scientists said. Ekathimerini-com added that most of Greece's rural areas are currently facing water rationing due to severe drought and water scarcity, which is impacting crop yields. Peach, nectarine, apricot and plum trees in northern Greece are suffering from water shortages and underperforming. Producers warn that "the quality of the fruit will be below expectations." In Messara, southern Crete, vegetables grown in greenhouses have dried up due to a lack of irrigation, resulting in a significant drop in production. According to Express, Crete is facing a severe drought as a result of diminishing water supplies on the southern Aegean island. Officials said the water shortages were mostly caused by very low rainfall and snowfall, as well as two years of blistering temperatures.
Euronews reported that water reserves are running dry in parts of Italy, leading some politicians to demand urgent action on the climate emergency: "Farmers are uprooting vineyards, citrus groves, they are slaughtering animals because there is no water. This is a disastrous situation." Reuters noted that a severe drought in Sicily has nearly dried up the Mediterranean island's only natural lake which has long served as a vital resting station for birds migrating between Africa and Europe. Sicily has suffered months of below-average rainfall, with the Italian government declaring a state of emergency over the crisis, which has devastated crops and desiccated pastures. The water shortage is hitting central areas of Sicily such as San Cataldo, in the province of Caltanissetta, very hard, and reservoirs are running dry or operating at very low levels. A prolonged drought last year led Sicilian authorities to ration water, even for domestic use in major cities. Euronews added that Sardinia declared a state of emergency in late July for reasons of persistent drought and lack of drinking water. The tourist hub has not seen rain in weeks as temperatures continue to rise.
Traveling Lifestyle reported that the popular summer tourist destination of the Algarve in Portugal is facing one of the most severe droughts in many years. This is actually the case across most of Europe as European Union nations have had to deal with wildfires and even scale back tourism due to the lack of available water. Euronews noted that residents across Romania are struggling with a severe water crisis, leaving them with a rationed water supply due to a prolonged drought and low rainfall. An ongoing heatwave has led to severe drought in some parts of Romania, with a number of lakes drying up and countless crops dying or being damaged. In the country's southern Galati county it hasn't rained for three months, causing the Talabasca lake to be almost entirely deprived of water. The Bulgarian News Agency reported that the river runoff situation in Bulgaria is extremely alarming due to climate change and persistent drought.
Asia
July was warmer than normal across much of Asia, except for western and northern areas; precipitation was below normal across large parts of western and northern Russia, southern Russia into northeast China, and in scattered areas in southern Asia. The SPI maps showed beneficial precipitation in July across parts of Southwest Asia. Continent-wide, Asia had the warmest and 35th wettest July, according to NOAA/NCEI and ECMWF ERA5 records, respectively. The 3-month SPI map shows large areas of dryness across Russia with dry areas in Mongolia to India, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Asia. They are not as widespread and intense at longer time scales, except in Southwest Asia and from northeast India to Myanmar, where they are more intense and widespread, especially at 24- to 60-month time scales. Unusual warmth characterized much of the last year, with July back through April-July (all 4 time periods) ranking warmest on record, and August-July (the last 12 months) ranking second warmest, according to NOAA/NCEI records. The excessive warmth increased evapotranspiration, as seen on the EDDI and ESI maps, which made drought conditions worse, as seen on the SPEI maps (especially in eastern Russia, northern China, and Southwest Asia at the longer time scales). Satellite observations (GRACE) showed low soil moisture, as well as low groundwater, across much of Southwest and Southeast Asia, northern India, parts of China and Mongolia, and much of Russia. Satellite data (VHI) revealed poor vegetative health across Southwest Asia, northern India, Southeast Asia, and parts of northern China and Mongolia to eastern Siberia. Drought conditions were confirmed over northern, eastern, and southwestern parts of India on the India Drought Monitor, covering about 23.1% of the nation at the end of July, which is about the same as last month. Drought was indicated in parts of Micronesia and across large parts of the Polynesian islands south of the equator, especially at 3, 6, and 12 months, on the NIWA Island Climate Update maps.
According to media reports (News18-India), nearly 1,182 cases of farmer suicide have been reported from Karnataka, India in 15 months, according to the figures given by the state revenue department. The farmer suicides were attributed to various factors such as severe drought, crop loss and overwhelming debt, as per the revenue department. According to The Moscow Times via The Northern Climate Observer, a summer heatwave has swept across Russia, with the unprecedented temperatures engulfing Russia from its central regions to the Far East. Wildfires accompanied the heat. Four regions in Far East Russia (Sakha, Zabaykalsky, Amur, and the republic of Buryatia) have states of emergency in place due to wildfires. Russia's wildfire season officially began in early March. By mid-April, regions in the Far East recorded nearly twice as many fires as they had during the same period last year, with most blazes caused by human negligence. Turkiye Today reported that, in Turkey, Ladik Lake, one of Samsun's natural beauties, is shrinking due to the recent severe drought. Known for its floating islets and as a stopover for 90 different bird species on their migration route, the lake's decreasing water levels pose a significant threat to local wildlife and surrounding community.
Africa
Parts of western, northern, and southern Africa (including Madagascar) were dry during July while other parts were wetter than normal. July temperatures were much warmer than normal across virtually the entire continent. Continent-wide, July 2024 was the warmest and 46th driest (40th wettest) July in the NOAA/NCEI and ECMWF ERA5 records, respectively. The SPI maps show more intense and widespread dryness at longer time scales, especially in southern, western, northern, and central areas, at 2- to 12-month time scales. ECMWF ERA5 precipitation ranks for the 12-month period, August 2023-July 2024, include 3rd driest for Northern Africa, 12th driest for Southern Africa, and 39th driest for Eastern Africa. The driest areas on the SPI maps were southern Africa (especially at the 6- to 12-month time scales) and northwestern Africa, especially the Maghreb region. In northwestern Africa, the dryness at 9- to 60-month time scales was more intense for the longer time scales. Record heat characterized each of the last 12 time periods from July to August-July for Africa, continent-wide. The persistent heat increased evapotranspiration and made drought conditions more intense and widespread, with some SPEI maps showing almost all of the continent having some degree of drought for most time scales. Models and satellite (GRACE) observations revealed persistent low soil moisture and groundwater in the Maghreb and adjacent northern regions, and over much of central to southern Africa. Satellite observations of vegetative health (VHI) revealed stressed vegetation over most of the continent, with the most severe conditions in the north and south. An analysis by the African Flood and Drought Monitor estimated 30% of the continent in drought at the end of July, which was more than last month, and included 7 countries in drought.
According to media reports (Reuters), Zimbabwe has revised its economic growth forecast downwards as southern Africa's worst drought in decades ravages crop yields, its finance minister told Reuters in July, but a bounceback in growth is likely in 2025. The Indian Awaaz noted that, according to the United Nations, more than half of the harvest in Zimbabwe has been destroyed due to a historic drought with around 7.6 million people now at risk of acute hunger. The Associated Press added that the drought puts the education of close to 2 million children at risk in Zimbabwe, with some dropping out of school for good and others forced to miss class, the U.N. humanitarian agency has said. More than 45,000 children dropped out of school during the previous El Niño in the 2015-2016 farming season, 3,000 more than the annual average, it said. The government is still collating figures for this latest El Niño. The Associated Press noted that a six-year drought has imperiled Morocco's entire agriculture sector, including farmers who grow cereals and grains used to feed humans and livestock, and Africa News reported that more than 20 people died July 24-25 in the central city of Beni Mellal as Morocco experienced an intense heatwave.
Australia
Parts of western, northeastern, and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania, were drier than normal during July, while temperatures were warmer than average in the west. According to ECMWF ERA5 temperature and precipitation data, Australia had the 35th wettest (51st driest) and 24th warmest July in the 1940-2024 record. Where it rained, the July precipitation was not enough to make up deficits that have accumulated over the last several months. The SPI maps show dryness extending along the southeast to northeast coast at 1- to 12-month time scales and across parts of western Australia at 6 to 72 months, as well as much of New Zealand at 3 to 12 months. Continent-wide, Australia had the 21st driest August-July 12-month period, according to ECMWF ERA5 data. Abnormally hot temperatures have occurred over the last 12 months, especially in the west and south where evapotranspiration was above normal, with August 2023-July 2024 ranking as the second warmest such 12-month period for Australia continent-wide, based on the ECMWF ERA5 dataset. The increased evapotranspiration made drought conditions more intense and widespread on the SPEI maps, especially at the 9- to 12-month time scales. Dry soils were evident along the southern to southwest coast of Australia, including Tasmania, according to GRACE soil moisture data. The GRACE data showed low groundwater in these areas and in parts of central and western Australia and the northern half of New Zealand. Satellite observations (VHI) revealed stressed vegetation across western, southeastern, central, and northeastern parts of Australia. These moisture anomaly patterns were confirmed by Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Australian Combined Drought Indicator analyses, which also showed low streamflows in parts of southwestern and southeastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as some areas along the eastern Australian coast, and low water storage levels in Tasmania and western and eastern Australia, especially in the southeast and southwest coastal areas. Parts of New Zealand, especially central to southern areas, were in drought at the end of July, based on the New Zealand Drought Monitor map prepared by the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
South America
Most of South America was drier than normal during July 2024, with the ECMWF ERA5 data ranking the month as the driest July on record, continent-wide. July had near-normal temperatures for much of Argentina and Chile, but monthly temperatures were warmer than normal for most of the continent to the north. NOAA/NCEI data ranked July 2024 as the 13th warmest July on record. SPI maps showed wet areas in the south, east, and northwest, but widespread dryness dominated the continent at 2- to 12-month time scales. August 2023-July 2024 ranked as the driest such 12-month period in the ECMWF ERA5 record, continent-wide. The dry conditions were accompanied by persistently hot temperatures in most areas. All 8 of the time scales from March-July back through August-July ranked as the warmest such periods, continent-wide, in the NOAA/NCEI record. The ESI and EDDI maps showed the northern half of the continent experiencing unusually high evapotranspiration at 1- to 12-month time scales. When the effects of low precipitation and high temperatures are combined, the SPEI maps show much more intense and widespread drought, with most of the continent having some form of drought at the longer time scales (24-48 months). Satellite observations (GRACE) show dry soils and low groundwater across huge swaths of South America — especially across Brazil to northern Argentina, in Venezuela, and over southern Chile and Argentina. Satellite analysis (VHI) revealed poor vegetative health from Peru and Brazil southward into Argentina and Chile.
Drought was confirmed across most of Brazil on the Brazilian Drought Monitor (National Water Agency map, CEMADEN map), in Chile and Argentina on the Southern South America Drought Information System (SISSA) maps, and in western South America countries on the CIIFEN Western South America Regional Drought Monitor. The SISSA 3-month drought index indicated 69.1% of Chile and Argentina was in drought or abnormally dry at the end of July, which is more than last month; the 6-month drought index had 32.1% of the region in drought or abnormally dry, which is less than last month; and the 12-month drought index had 53.0% of the region in drought or abnormally dry, which is a little more than last month. CEMADEN statistics indicated that, in Brazil, 1595 municipalities had at least 40% of their agro-productive areas (agricultural activities and/or pastures) impacted by drought in July; last month the number was 739 municipalities. The number of municipalities in severe drought conditions across Brazil increased to 1361 municipalities at the end of July, with the number in extreme drought jumping to 404 from 106. The CEMADEN report stated that 32 indigenous lands were classified as suffering from extreme drought, with another 207 suffering from severe drought, most of which were located in the North and Central-West regions.
According to media reports (The Brazilian Report), in 2023, severe droughts cut off many cities in the Amazon rainforest from the rest of the world. Now, the Brazilian government fears the lack of rain could lead to the collapse of the Amazon energy supply and massive power outages. Reuters noted that severe drought in an Amazonian river that powers two of Brazil's largest hydroelectric plants has forced a policy shift toward using more thermal sources and energy imports in the northern region. Phys.org added that severe droughts in the Amazon basin over the past two decades have caused low water level periods to last around a month longer than usual, triggering profound impacts on the local population. Reuters reported that Bolivia is grappling with a record number of fires in the first seven months of the year, based on satellite data; the flames send villagers fleeing, kill wildlife and char the landscape. Diesel shortages across the country are further complicating firefighting efforts by making it more difficult to reach remote areas and tackle the blazes, local charities said. The South American continent overall is bracing for an intense fire season, as a drought driven by climate change has dried out vegetation in much of the region. The worst of the dry season lies ahead, with wildfires generally peaking in August and September, Inpe data show. Reuters added that the number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest region surged to a record high in almost two decades for the month of July, amid a drought in the region fanned by climate change. The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, plays a vital role in curbing global warming because of the vast amounts of greenhouse gas it absorbs. Satellites detected 11,434 fire hotspots in the Amazon in July, the largest number for that month since 2005, data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) showed.
North America
In North America, the SPI showed July as drier than normal across northwestern parts of Mexico to the western and central United States (U.S.) as well as much of Canada, and wetter than normal across the eastern U.S., Alaska, and most of Mexico and Central America. July temperatures were warmer than normal across most of the continent, with near-normal monthly temperatures in parts of the central U.S., Alaska, and Central America. NOAA/NCEI data ranked July 2024 as the second warmest July on record, continent-wide, and ECMWF ERA5 data gave a rank of 31st wettest July on record. Unusual warmth characterized most of the last 12 months, with the periods April-July through February-July and December-July through August-July (all 8 time periods) ranking warmest on record. It was particularly dry during the last 1 to 3 months in the central Appalachian region of the eastern U.S. and from the central to western U.S., and the last 1 to 9 months over western and far eastern Canada and northern Mexico. The SPI maps show most of Canada dry at 12 to 48 months, parts of Mexico and Central America dry at 12 to 60 months, and in the U.S. — dryness in the southern and central Plains to Ohio Valley at 24 to 48 months, the southern to central Plains at 36 to 60 months, and in parts of the West at 48 to 72 months. The unusually warm temperatures increased evapotranspiration across much of Mexico and Canada and the western U.S., as seen on the July ESI and EDDI maps. The EDDI maps show enhanced evapotranspiration across Mexico to the western CONUS (contiguous U.S.), and from the eastern CONUS to eastern and northern Canada, at 2 to 3 months, and across most of the continent at 6- to 12-month time scales. The unusual warmth/evapotranspiration is reflected on the SPEI maps by more intense and expansive drought, especially at the longer time scales — virtually all of Canada and Mexico, and parts of Central America, have some degree of drought at 12 to 48 months, with severe drought across large parts of the U.S. southern Plains at 12 to 36 months and southern Plains to western CONUS at 48 months.
According to NOAA/NCEI national analyses, the CONUS had the 11th warmest and 30st wettest July in the 1895-2024 record, with moderate to exceptional drought covering 19.9% of the CONUS (16.9% of the 50 states and Puerto Rico), which is more than a month ago. Moderate to exceptional drought covered 40.1% of Mexico at the end of the month, which is less than a month ago. In Canada, 59% of the country was classified as abnormally dry (D0) or in moderate to exceptional drought (D1-D4), which is more than last month. Satellite (GRACE) observations revealed extensive areas of low groundwater across much of western to central Canada and parts of eastern Canada, the southern Plains of the U.S. to interior Pacific Northwest, and parts of Mexico and Central America. GRACE observations of soil moisture indicated dry soils across those same areas in Canada, and the Far West and southern Plains in the U.S., but June and July rains helped improve soil moisture conditions in Mexico and Central America. Satellite analysis (VHI) indicated poor vegetative health across western and southeastern parts of Canada, and the western half of the U.S. into northern Mexico. Dozens of large wildfires burned across Canada and the western CONUS during July. The North American Drought Monitor (NADM) product depicted drought across the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, central Plains, southern Plains to Southwest, Ohio Valley to Mid-Atlantic coast, and parts of the Southeast in the CONUS; across much of western and parts of central and eastern Canada; and much of northern and parts of western and southern Mexico. The Caribbean Regional Climate Center SPI maps showed areas of short-term (1 to 6 months) and long-term (12 to 24 months) dryness across various parts of the Caribbean region, but the SPEI maps indicated the focus of the dryness was in the southern Caribbean Islands with some long-term dryness in the northern islands.
In Canada, the AAFC (Agriculture and AgriFood Canada) reported that abnormally dry to drought conditions affected 67% of the country's agricultural landscape, which is more than last month. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics indicated that drought affected approximately 32% of barley production, 5% of corn production, 11% of cotton production, 29% of sorghum production, 5% of soybean production, 16% of spring wheat production, 32% of winter wheat production, 20% of hay acreage, 15% of the cattle inventory, 10% of the milk cow inventory, and 20% of the sheep inventory at the end of July. The USDA reported that 9% of the corn crop, 8% of the soybean crop, 4% of the spring wheat crop, and 29% of the pasture and rangeland were in poor to very poor condition, and 32% of the nation's topsoil and 31% of the subsoil were short or very short of moisture (dry or very dry). States with the driest soils were in the Mid-Atlantic to Ohio Valley, Pacific Northwest, and central and southern Plains to Rocky Mountains, followed by states in New England and the Southeast.
According to media reports (Global News), the Mackenzie River, Canada's longest river, is at historically low levels, stranding communities that rely on it for essential goods and alarming First Nations along its banks who have never known the mighty Mackenzie to be so shallow. "This has never been seen before," said Dieter Cazon, looking out at the water from his office as land and resources manager for the Liidlii Kue First Nation at Fort Simpson, N.W.T. "We've asked elders, 'Does anybody have stories about water being this incredibly low?' Nobody has these stories." The Northern Climate Observer summarized media reports from CVT News Vancouver and Vancouver Sun that noted a historic heat wave in British Columbia was creating prime fire conditions, with the number of blazes jumping to 130 early in July. The Associated Press reported that a fast-moving wildfire in the Canadian Rockies, that had prompted 25,000 people to flee, roared into the near-deserted town of Jasper in late July with flames as high as treetops, devastating up to half of its structures. Local media (The Wheeling Intelligencer, The Mon Valley Independent) reported that the drought in the central Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S. has reduced food supplies that wildlife normally eat, so the animals have consumed crops. This is a relatively common drought impact. But the drought this year is so severe that large numbers of wildlife are encroaching on fields and devouring the crops. Some reports from West Virginia and Pennsylvania included: "They're foraging on the corn, green beans and other crops because they're starving. There are deer everywhere because their natural foods have dried up, causing additional stress and strain on the crops as they get annihilated by wildlife. ... hungry birds have ravaged his crops. Black birds damaged the sweet corn, shucking much of the ear. Crows ravaged the watermelons and tomatoes. Deer have also devoured the white sweet corn, leaving no tassels or tops to pollinate." Border Report noted that thousands of dead fish are littering an expanse in Mexico's northwest Chihuahua state once frequented by fishermen from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Water levels at both Fierro Lake and the nearby Laguna Grande are down drastically this summer. But it is the latter — smaller and standing on higher ground — that has practically dried up.