The objective of this work was to characterize the droughts in the State of Ceará based on the Palmer drought severity index. Historical data series of rainfall and air temperature of 21 localities of this State, were provided by the "Superintendência de Desenvolvimento do Nordeste - SUDENE", and by the "Fundação Cearense de Meteorologia e Recursos Hídricos - FUNCEME", respectively. The occurrences of droughts of different degrees of severity were verified in the State of Ceará, with frequent moderate and severe droughts.
Palmer drought severity index; climatology
