Climate Change Accelerating 'Flash Droughts' Globally, Straining Resources

Flash droughts are becoming more frequent and developing much faster due to human-caused climate change.
These droughts impact agricultural production and stress water resources, especially in the tropics and subtropics.
Even with moderate warming, flash droughts will worsen in severity and frequency across most of the world.
The speed at which flash droughts develop reduces the ability of forecasters to predict them and communities to respond to them.
Farmers and others who depend on water should prepare for more frequent and intense flash droughts in the coming decades.