A new report on the fall flash drought of 2023 in the Southeast is now available from Drought.gov. You can read more about the development of the drought as well as its impacts on agriculture, forestry, and other industries at https://www.drought.gov/news/facing-future-droughts-lessons-southeasts-2023-fall-flash-drought-2025-12-12. There is a link to the full report on that page as well.
The report concludes with the following observations: The fall 2023 drought in the Southeast underscored valuable lessons about how drought behaves in this complex and often water-rich region. It revealed the importance of early and consistent impact reporting, the need for greater integration of sub-monthly and inter-monthly monitoring tools, and the value of strong relationships between drought monitoring entities and sector-specific stakeholders. The event also demonstrated how collaborative frameworks like the Southeast DEWS and innovative state-led programs can drive more responsive and informed drought management.
