Rapid-onset drought, also known as “flash” drought, is something that plagues the Southeast periodically. It usually happens during the growing season where it can have a great impact on crops and pastures. Flash drought can be caused by a protracted dry spell at a time when crops need 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week to develop (depending on what stage of growth they are in) and can be made worse when temperatures and the resulting evaporation and evapotranspiration are particularly high. A new study on flash drought patterns across the country has shown that the Southeast is one of the regions with the strongest flash droughts. You can read more about the study and find a link to the original article at https://cpo.noaa.gov/mapping-flash-drought-patterns-across-the-u-s.
