Drought eases in the country, but advances in Rio Grande do Sul

According to the latest update of the Drought Monitor, between December 2024 and January 2025, in terms of drought severity, there was a softening of the phenomenon in 21 states: Acre, Alagoas, Amazonas, Amapá, Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, São Paulo, Sergipe and Tocantins. With the volume of rainfall, the drought was no longer recorded in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Conversely, only in Rio Grande do Sul did the drought intensify in January. In four other states of the Federation, the phenomenon remained stable in terms of severity during this period: Federal District, Espírito Santo, Roraima and Santa Catarina.

Considering the five geopolitical regions monitored by the Drought Monitor, the Southeast had the mildest drought conditions in January, while the North had the most severe situation, recording exceptional drought – the most intense on the Monitor's scale. Between December and January, there was a slowdown in four regions: Central-West, Northeast, North and Southeast. The exception was the South, where the phenomenon intensified during this period. Considering the extension of the area with drought, there was a reduction in the area with records of the phenomenon in the Northeast, North and Southeast. In the South region, the area with drought increased. The Central-West continued to experience drought throughout its territory.

In the comparison between December and January, two states recorded an increase in the area affected by drought: Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. In the opposite direction, the Monitor verified a decrease in the area affected by the phenomenon in nine other states: Alagoas, Amapá, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Norte and São Paulo. In another 15 states of the Federation, the area affected by drought remained stable: Acre, Amazonas, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rondônia, Roraima, Sergipe and Tocantins. Rio de Janeiro remained drought-free during the period.

Thirteen states of the Federation recorded drought across 100% of their territory in January of this year: Acre, the Federal District, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rondônia, Sergipe and Tocantins. In the other states where the phenomenon was recorded, the percentages varied from 31% to 99%. 

Based on the territory of each unit of the Federation monitored, Amazonas leads the total area with drought in January, followed by Pará, Mato Grosso, Bahia and Mato Grosso do Sul. In total, between December and January, the area with the phenomenon fell from 7,85 million to 7,45 million km², equivalent to 87% of the Brazilian territory.

Situation by State

Acre

Between May 2024 and January 2025, the area with drought remained present throughout the entire territory of Acre. This is the first time that the state has recorded drought in 100% of its territory for nine consecutive months since November 2022, when AC entered the Monitor Map.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, the drought eased in Acre with a significant reduction in severe drought from 80% to 28% of the state. This is the mildest condition of the phenomenon in AC since May 2024.

Alagoas

Between December 2024 and January of this year, the area affected by drought in Alagoas had a reduction from 100% to 90% of its territory. This is the first time that the state has recorded drought-free areas since October of last year.

Alagoas recorded a easing of the phenomenon, as severe drought ceased to be recorded in the state in January of this year. This is the best condition of the phenomenon in the state of Alagoas since September 2024, when there was moderate drought in 16% of the state.

Amapá

Between December 2024 and January 2025, the area with drought increased from 82% to 31% of Amapá. It is the smallest area with the presence of the phenomenon in the state since February 2024, when AP recorded 23% of the area with drought. It is also the lowest percentage of drought among the states in the North region in January.

The phenomenon eased in Amapá in January, as moderate drought was no longer identified in the state, which had not happened since July last year. In addition, AP had the mildest drought conditions among the northern states in January.

Amazon

The area with drought in Amazonas continued in 99% of the state between October 2024 and January 2025

Between December 2024 and January of this year, the Amazonas state saw a easing of the drought, with the area with extreme drought reducing from 27% to 19% of the Amazon territory. Even so, the state had the most severe drought conditions in Brazil among all the states of the Federation in January, as it was the only state to record exceptional drought, which is the most intense on the Monitor scale.

Bahia

The area with drought decreased slightly from 97% to 93% of Bahia between December 2024 and January 2025

The phenomenon eased in Bahia between December 2024 and January of this year, because severe drought was no longer recorded in the state.

It is the best drought condition in Bahia since July 2024

Ceará

The area with drought in Ceará decreased from 80% to 63% of the state between December of last year and January 2025. It is the smallest area with the phenomenon in CE since the 13% of weak drought observed in August 2024.

The drought eased in Ceará between December 2024 and January 2025, as moderate drought was no longer identified in the state. It is the mildest condition in the Ceará territory since August 2024

Federal District

Between May 2024 and January 2025, drought continued to affect 100% of the Federal District. This is the first time that the Federation unit has recorded drought across its entire territory for nine consecutive months, since July 2020, when the DF entered the Drought Monitor Map.

The intensity of the drought remained stable in the Federal District between November 2024 and January of this year, with mild drought in 100% of the territory during this period. As a result, the Federal District had the best drought conditions in the Central-West region in January.

Espírito Santo

The area with drought in the state of Espírito Santo decreased significantly, going from 100% to 31% between December 2024 and January 2025. It is the smallest area with drought in Espírito Santo since October 2023, when the phenomenon was present in 4% of the state.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, the intensity of the drought remained stable in Espírito Santo, where only a weak drought was recorded, which is the mildest on the Monitor's scale. In January, the state had the best drought conditions since October 2023.

Goiás

The drought area remained in 100% of Goiás between July 2024 and January of this year. This is the first time that the phenomenon has been recorded in the entire territory of Goiás for seven consecutive months since it entered the Monitor Map in June 2020.

The drought eased in Goiás between December last year and January 2025, as severe drought was no longer recorded in the state. This is the mildest drought in Goiás since November 2023.

Maranhao

Between September 2024 and January 2025, the area with drought remained stable in 100% of Maranhão. Since the period from September 2017 to January 2018, this is the first time that the state has recorded drought across its entire territory for five consecutive months.

The phenomenon eased in Maranhão with the reduction of the area with severe drought, which went from 29% to 12% of the state between December of last year and January 2025. Despite this, MA had the most severe drought condition among the states of the Northeast in January.

Mato Grosso

Mato Grosso continued with drought across its entire territory between July 2024 and January 2025. This is the first time that the state has recorded drought across 100% of its territory for seven consecutive months since June 2021, when MT entered the Monitor Map.

There was a easing of the drought in Mato Grosso between December and January, due to the significant reduction in the area with severe drought from 38% to 7% of the state. It is the mildest condition of the phenomenon in MT since its entry into the Monitor Map in June 2021.

Mato Grosso do Sul

In Mato Grosso do Sul, the area with drought remained throughout the state between July 2024 and January 2025. Since the period between January and July 2022, it is the first time that the state has recorded drought for seven consecutive months in 100% of the territory of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The drought eased in Mato Grosso do Sul between December 2024 and January of this year, with the area with severe drought reducing from 42% to 22% of the state. Even so, the territory of Mato Grosso do Sul had the most severe condition of the phenomenon in the Center-West in January

Minas Gerais

The area with drought in Minas Gerais decreased significantly from 93% to 38% of the state between December and January. It is the smallest area with drought in the state since the 36% recorded in October 2023

In Minas Gerais, the drought eased between December of last year and January 2025, as moderate drought in the state fell from 18% to 10% in that period. This is the best condition of the phenomenon in the state of Minas Gerais since October 2023, when MG had 2% moderate drought.

Para

Pará continued to experience drought across 100% of its territory between August 2024 and January 2025. This is the first time that the state has recorded the phenomenon for six consecutive months since its entry into the Monitor Map in April 2023.

Between December of last year and January 2025, there was a easing of the drought in Pará, as the state stopped recording severe drought in its territory. This is the best condition of the phenomenon in the state of Pará since April 2023.

Paraíba

Paraíba recorded drought across its entire territory between September 2024 and January of this year. Since the period from August to December 2021, this is the first time that the state has had drought across 100% of its territory for five consecutive months.

Between December 2024 and January of this year, the drought eased in Paraíba, as moderate drought was no longer observed in the state, which had a mild drought across its entire territory. This is the mildest condition in the state since September 2024, when there was also a mild drought across 100% of Paraíba's territory.

Paraná

Between December 2024 and January 2025, the area with drought decreased slightly from 43% to 42% of Paraná. It is the smallest area with the phenomenon in the state since February 2024, when the phenomenon was recorded in 30% of the state's territory. In addition, the state had the lowest percentage of area with drought in the South in January.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, drought eased slightly in Paraná with moderate drought falling from 19% to 18% in the state. This is the best condition in Paraná since the 10% moderate drought recorded in May 2024.

Pernambuco

Pernambuco continued to experience drought across 100% of its territory between September 2024 and January of this year. This is the first time that the state has recorded drought across its entire area for five consecutive months since the period between August and December 2018.

The drought eased in Pernambuco between December 2024 and January this year, as severe drought was no longer recorded in the state. It is the mildest condition in PE since September 2024

Piaui

Between September 2024 and January of this year, the area with drought in Piauí remained at 100% of the state. Since the period between September 2017 and January 2018, it is the first time that the Piauí territory has registered the phenomenon throughout the state for five consecutive months.

The drought eased in Piauí between December last year and January 2025, with the area with moderate drought reducing from 34% to less than 1%. It is the mildest condition in the Piauí territory since March 2023.

Rio de Janeiro

In January of this year, drought was no longer recorded in the State of Rio de Janeiro for the first time since March 2024. As a result, the state was the only unit of the Federation free from drought in January.  

The drought stopped being recorded in Rio de Janeiro in January 2025. As a result, the state of Rio de Janeiro had the best condition in Brazil in January

Rio Grande do Norte

Between December of last year and January 2025, the area with drought in Rio Grande do Norte fell from 100% to 55% of the state. This is the lowest percentage since August 2024, when there was drought in 32% of RN. In addition, the state had the lowest percentage of area with drought in the Northeast in January

The drought eased in Rio Grande do Norte between December 2024 and January of this year, as moderate drought was no longer observed in the state. This is the mildest condition of the phenomenon in the state since the 32% weak drought recorded in August 2024. As a result, RN had the best drought condition among the northeastern states in January.

Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul saw a significant increase in the area with drought from 29% to 77% of its territory between December 2024 and January 2025. It is the largest area with drought in RS since June 2023, when the phenomenon was recorded throughout the state. As a result, in January Rio Grande do Sul was the state in the South region with the highest percentage of area with drought records.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, the severity of the drought in Rio Grande do Sul increased, as the state began to record severe drought in 32% of its territory. This is the worst condition of the phenomenon in the state since June 2023, when extreme drought was recorded in 21% of RS

Rondônia

The area with drought remained at 100% of Rondônia between July 2024 and January 2025. It is the first time that the state has registered drought in its entirety for seven consecutive months since August 2022, when RO entered the Monitor Map  

Between December of last year and January 2025, the drought eased in Rondônia, as the state stopped recording extreme drought in its territory. It is the mildest drought condition in RO since September 2023, when the region experienced 7% severe drought

Roraima

Roraima continued with 36% drought in its territory between December 2024 and January 2025

Between December 2024 and January 2025, drought severity remained stable in Roraima

Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina recorded an increase in the area affected by drought from 26% to 44% between December 2024 and January 2025

Between August of last year and January 2025, the severity of the phenomenon remained stable in Santa Catarina, which recorded only mild drought during this period, which is the mildest on the Monitor's scale. This is the mildest condition of the phenomenon among the southern states in January.

São Paulo

In the State of São Paulo, the area affected by drought decreased from 100% to 92% between December 2024 and January of this year. This is the smallest extent of the phenomenon in the state of São Paulo since May 2024, when SP had 85% drought. On the other hand, in January, São Paulo was the state in the Southeast with the highest percentage of area affected by the phenomenon.

The drought eased in the state of São Paulo between December last year and January 2025, as the area with moderate drought fell from 64% to 57%. On the other hand, São Paulo had the most severe drought among the states in the Southeast in January

Sergipe

Between September 2024 and January 2025, the drought-stricken area remained at 100% of Sergipe. This is the first time that the state has recorded the phenomenon across its entire territory for five consecutive months since the period from October 2021 to February 2022.

Between December 2024 and January of this year, the phenomenon eased in Sergipe, because severe drought was no longer identified in the state. This is the best condition of the phenomenon in the Sergipe territory since September 2024.

Tocantins

Tocantins continued with drought in 100% of its territory between July 2024 and January 2025. It is the first time that the state has recorded drought in its entire territory for seven consecutive months since December 2019, when TO entered the Monitor Map

In Tocantins, the drought eased between December 2024 and January of this year, with the moderate drought reducing from 100% to 73%. This is the mildest drought in the state since November 2023.