Drought is an extended period of low rainfall that can last from one year to the next. It affects all climatic regions and results from a significant reduction in precipitation over time, typically a season or more. Droughts are complex and can be classified into meteorological, hydrologic, agricultural, and socioeconomic types.

Droughts are hard to precisely define and can trigger other hazards, such as extreme heat and wildfires. They severely impact wildlife and agriculture, often destroying crops, grazing land, and trees. Additionally, dry conditions increase wildfire risk, making drought combined with heat waves particularly dangerous.