Like flash floods, flash droughts come on fast–drying out soil in a matter of days to weeks. This can wipe out crops, causing huge economic losses. The speed at which they dry out the landscape has increased probably due to rising temperatures. Globally, the ones that come on the fastest–sending areas into drought conditions within just five days–have increased by about 3%-19%. In places especially prone to flash droughts–such as South Asia, Southeast Asia and central North America–that increase is about 22%-59%. In the summer of 2012, a flash drought in the central U.S. caused the corn crop to wither, leading to an estimated $35.7 billion in losses.
Story Source: University of Texas at Austin.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220401160542.htm