Drought

Drought is one of the most significant and recurring natural hazards affecting South Africa, with far-reaching consequences for water security, agricultural production, food security, and livelihoods. As a water-scarce country with highly variable rainfall –  particularly across the semi-arid interior –  South Africa is especially vulnerable to prolonged periods of below-normal precipitation and the associated depletion of surface water and groundwater resources. Climate change is projected to intensify drought frequency and severity across many parts of the country, making early warning, monitoring, and response capacity increasingly critical.

The resources below provide access to drought monitoring and early warning systems at both national and global scales, covering agricultural drought indicators, standardised drought indices, and famine early warning tools relevant to South Africa and the broader southern African region.