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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

The ACF River Basin Drought and Water Dashboard is an interactive, web-based application that allows users to monitor drought…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
NOAA, Albany State University, Auburn University, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Project Timeline
Oct
2019
Jan
2022
DEWS Components
Description

This NIDIS-funded project, which is being led by the State Climate Office of Ohio in partnership with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA), will develop a system to track and assess…

Scope
State
Key Partners
State Climate Office of Ohio, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, NIDIS
Project Timeline
Jun
2020
Aug
2022
DEWS Components
Description

Drought is a complex environmental hazard that impacts both ecological and social systems. Accounting for the role of human attitudes, institutions, and societal values in drought planning is…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
U.S. Geological Survey
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

This project sought to develop drought adaptation plans for the Flandreau Santee Tribe and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. This project is unique in that it is sponsored in part by the…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Project Timeline
Jan
2017
Dec
2018
DEWS Components
Description

This project focused on developing drought adaptation plans for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. This project is unique in that it is being sponsored in part by…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe
Project Timeline
Jan
2017
Dec
2018
DEWS Components