The article presents the results of monitoring drought occurrence in the upper and lower reaches of the Varzob River (Tajikistan), characterized by different climatic conditions, using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation and evapotranspiration index (SPEI). We found that the downward trend of SPI and SPEI in the lower reaches, with correlation coefficients of 0.23 and 0.63, respectively, was more significant than in the upper reaches, characterized by correlation coefficients of 0.08 and 0.26. The study shows that drought conducive conditions are created by a certain combination of meteorological parameters, namely precipitation deficit and temperatures above the climatic normal.