Afghanistan: Dry Spell Monitoring (As of 31 December 2025)

According to the Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) for Afghanistan, conditions in the southern and western regions improved over the course of December. Notably, the provinces of Daykundi, Farah, Ghor, Hilmand, Hirat, Kandahar, Nimroz, Nuristan and Uruzgan shifted from watch status to recovery and then to no drought conditions. Conditions in the rest of the country remain largely unchanged and at warning level.

This improvement follows below-average precipitation received between October and November, followed by significantly improved rainfall in December. According to FEWS NET, the snowpack, which has been severely affected by recent droughts and had reached record-low levels in most basins, has shown notable improvements in snow depth. In terms of spatial extent, snow cover is also in a much better condition compared to the same period last year.

Improved snowpack and rainfall are likely to support spring wheat planting and, more importantly, the healthy development of sown seeds, particularly in rain-fed areas. However, weather conditions continue to vary across regions, and in areas where below-average precipitation persists, including parts of the south, soil moisture stress is expected to continue.

Affected Regions:
By the end of December 2025, regions remaining at warning level include the northern, north-eastern, eastern (except Nuristan Province), south-eastern, central highlands (except Daykundi Province), and the capital region. In the western region, conditions in parts of Badghis Province have improved; however, small pockets at alert level, reflecting impacted vegetation growth, remain.

1. CDI sourced from the Copernicus European Drought Observatory (EDO), accessible here
2. FEWS NET, Afghanistan Agroclimate Monitoring Report 2025/2026 Season, December 2025