An investigation of temporal dynamics and spatial patterns of dryness/wetness conditions over the eastern part of Northwest China (including Shaanxi, Ningxia, the eastern part of Gansu, and a part of southern Inner Mongolia) during the period 1960–2009 is presented. The analysis of this study is threefold. First, the dryness/wetness conditions over the study area were characterized using the self‐calibrating Palmer Drought Sev...