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Drought Early Warning Activities

Page Summary

Each regional drought early warning system (DEWS) focuses on improving early warning capacity for and resilience to drought in that region, including examining the role of extreme weather events and climate variability in drought.

Regional DEWS Coordination

NIDIS has developed regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) throughout the United States, where local networks of researchers, resource managers, policymakers, the private sector, academics, and other stakeholders share information and actions to help their communities cope with drought.

A DEWS coordinates this network of key regional partners so that decision makers and citizens can systematically approach drought monitoring and forecasting integration when planning and preparing for drought. Regional DEWS encourage innovation by integrating new, locally relevant drought information, and supporting the introduction and testing of technologies that detect and communicate drought risks and warnings.

Regional DEWS activities focus on five key areas for drought early warning (DEWS components): observation and monitoring, prediction and forecasting, planning and preparedness, communication and outreach, and interdisciplinary research and applications.

Circles representing each of the 5 key components of a drought early warning system

Drought Early Warning Activities

The table below shows ongoing activities related to drought early warning across the United States. Each activity falls into one or more of the five key areas of drought early warning systems (DEWS components): observation and monitoring, planning and preparedness, prediction and forecasting, communication and outreach, and interdisciplinary research and applications.

DEWS Components Legend
Observation & Monitoring
 
Planning & Preparedness
 
Prediction & Forecasting
 
Communication & Outreach
 
Research & Applications

Select filters to browse DEWS Activities below

Description

Since 2011, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Central Regional Climate Services Director, American Association of State Climatologists, U.S. Department of Agriculture Climate Hubs…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
NOAA, American Association of State Climatologists, National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, NOAA Regional Climate Centers, NIDIS
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

During the 2020 Northeast drought, the NIDIS communications team and the Northeast DEWS team published weekly updates on drought impacts and forecast…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
NIDIS, Northeast Regional Climate Center, NOAA, USDA Northeast Climate Hub, U.S. Geological Survey, American Association of State Climatologists
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

The Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) uses a Google listserv to collect and share information on drought conditions. The listserv allows for…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
Northeast Regional Climate Center
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

Beginning in June 2020, Northeast DEWS region states held drought response coordination meetings. Current condition reports and forecasts from water…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
NIDIS, NOAA, Northeast Regional Climate Center
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe organized a series of five workshops to provide training and education for the staff and students from the 12 federally recognized tribes of North Dakota and…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Project Timeline
Jan
2019
Dec
2020
DEWS Components