Afghanistan: Dry Spell Monitoring - March 2025

Afghanistan continues to experience below-average precipitation levels, with only a few isolated areas approaching average rainfall. Cumulative precipitation across the country remains below average. The snow water equivalent is generally below average and declining in most river basins, further exacerbating water scarcity issues.

The Agricultural Stress Index (ASI) highlights zones where vegetation growth is significantly below normal, indicating potential drought conditions. Low root zone soil moisture across most parts of the country, except for some northern and northeastern provinces, is particularly concerning.

Above-average surface temperatures have been recorded throughout the country, with the exception of some northeastern regions. This trend is expected to continue, with forecasts predicting below-average precipitation and above-average temperatures over the coming months. These conditions are likely to worsen water shortages, further reduce crop yields, and damage pasturelands.

Affected Regions:

As of March 2025, the most affected areas are in the provinces of Faryab and Jawzjan in Northern Region. Other areas at warning level include Hilmand in Southern Region, Hirat in Western Region, Kunduz in North-Eastern Region and Nangarhar in Eastern Region