The El Abid river basin stands out as a distinctive hydrological unit, holding significant importance as one of the primary contributors of the larger Oum Er Rbia river basin. Located in the Central High Atlas, its geographical features include a steep slope and a diverse morphology predominantly defined by mountainous terrain. Furthermore, precipitation in both solid and liquid forms within this basin is influenced by various factors, including altitude and slope direction. Over the past few decades, the proliferation of drought, driven by climatic variability, has exerted detrimental impacts on the agricultural pursuits of the basin’s inhabitants. This study focuses on determining, and identifying periods of climatic drought in the Oued El Abid basin, employing the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) technique to analyze rainfall data extending from 1976 to 2021. The findings reveal a temporal sequence characterized by alternating phases of dry and wet conditions. During dry periods, the SPI values range from 0 to -2, indicative of extreme drought conditions.