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Global drought area has been increasing since mid-2019, and it reached a new historical peak in October 2022. A historical maximum of 6.2% of the global land area experienced extreme drought conditions in August 2022. The extent of severe plus extreme drought conditions in 2022 exceeded 15% of the global land area between July and November, reaching a historical maximum of 15.8% in August. Similarly, moderate or worse drought conditions peaked in October at a historical maximum of 29% of the global land area. NOAA Climate.gov image, adapted from the BAMS State of the Climate 2022, Plate 2.1q.