Abstract: Based on the gridded dataset of monthly precipitation from 1961 to 2015, precipitation regionalization is firstly carried out by spatial hierarchical cluster method in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLYR). Then, standardized precipitation index is employed to explore the temporal evolution of drought events, and wavelet method is used to detect the drought periodicity in each sub-region of MLYR. The results show that: (1) Spatially, MLYR can be divided into six sub-regions, namely, Daba Mountain (Region I), Intersection of Hunan-Hubei-Guizhou-Chongqing (Region II), Central and eastern plain of Hubei province (Region III), Hilly plain area of Hunan-Jiangxi (Region IV), Poyang Lake Plain (Region V), Yangtze River Delta Plain (Region VI). (2) There are obvious differences in the alternating processes of dry and wet events in different sub-regions. The dry and wet evolution in Region VI differs greatly from other sub-regions. The wet and dry events in Region II, Region IV and Region V have similar temporal evolution patterns. Except for the Region VI, the frequencies of drought in other sub-regions have increased significantly after 2000. (3) There are differences in the first main cycles of meteorological drought in different sub-regions. Drought periods of the northern (Region I, Region III and Region VI) and southern (Region II, Region IV and Region V) regions have obvious regional differentiation characteristics, but a significant cycle of about 3.5 years exists in the most of the sub-regions. The results of this paper can provide reference for the interpretation of meteorological drought driving factors, the formulation of drought monitoring plan, the management of water resources and the prevention and control of drought in the sub-regions of MLYR.