A drought is a prolonged period in which an area receives much less precipitation than normal, often causing water shortages. It is not simply one dry day or a brief spell of sunny weather; its duration and effects depend on the region’s usual climate and water needs.
Drought can develop when rainfall or snowfall stays below average for weeks, months, or years. High temperatures and strong winds can intensify it by increasing evaporation from soil, lakes, reservoirs, and plants. Low snowpack can also create a later water shortage because melting snow normally supplies rivers and groundwater.
Scientists describe several forms, including meteorological drought, agricultural drought, hydrological drought, and socioeconomic drought. A dry spell generally means a shorter interval without rain and may not cause serious shortages. A monsoon is a seasonal wind and rainfall pattern, while a flood is an excess-water event—the opposite of drought in immediate conditions, though both can occur in the same region in different seasons.