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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 Coastal Salinity Index (CSI) was developed as a way to characterize coastal drought by monitoring the freshwater-saltwater interface. The tool is intended to improve understanding of the…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center, Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA, a NOAA RISA Team), NIDIS
Project Timeline
Sep
2016
Aug
2020
DEWS Components
Description

The Carolinas Precipitation Patterns & Probabilities Atlas (Atlas) provides Carolinas-focused information about extremes (drought, heavy rainfall) and normal precipitation patterns. The Atlas…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Project Timeline
Jan
2014
Dec
2017
DEWS Components
Description

Agricultural crop insurance is an important component for mitigating farm risk, particularly given the potential for unexpected climatic events. Using a 2.8 million national insurance claim…

Scope
Region
Key Partners
Oregon State University, University of Idaho
Project Timeline
Sep
2018
Aug
2020
DEWS Components
Description

The Idaho Water Resource Board and a number of private entities are diverting flows in the wintertime and high runoff periods (using junior priority rights designated for recharge) to recharge…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Idaho Water Resource Board
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

The Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee produces web-based short-term and long-term drought status updates on a monthly and quarterly basis, respectively.

Scope
State
Key Partners
Arizona Drought Monitoring Technical Committee, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components