Why do some regions become drought-prone for years at a time?

Drought is often more than just a short spell without rain. Large-scale circulation patterns can suppress rainfall by steering storms elsewhere or by strengthening high-pressure systems that block clouds and precipitation. Once soils dry out, less moisture returns to the air through evaporation and plant transpiration, which can make the region even hotter and drier. This feedback can prolong droughts for months or years, especially when coupled with ocean patterns such as ENSO or long-lived heat anomalies.