Flash drought, characterized by rapid intensification, significantly impacts agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems. This study identifies global flash drought hotspots (1980–2015) using evaporative stress anomalies and the standardized evaporative stress ratio (SESR). Hotspots were found in Brazil, the Sahel, the Great Rift Valley, and India, with additional localized hotspots in the central US, southwestern Russia, and northeastern China. Six of fifteen study regions showed a significant increase in flash drought frequency, while three showed a decrease. The study highlights the need for further research into regional drivers and the complex interaction between flash drought and socioeconomic impacts.

Jordan I. Christian, Jeffrey B. Basara, Eric D. Hunt, Jason A. Otkin, Jason C. Furtado, Vimal Mishra, Xiangming Xiao, Robb M. Randall