To study the characteristics of propagation from meteorological drought to hydrological drought in Southwest China, observation data of 101 meteorological stations and monthly runoff data of 8 hydrological stations in Southwest China from 1968 to 2017 were used to calculate standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and standardized runoff index (SRI). The drought response time (DRT) was determined based on the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), which was used to identify, pool and exclude the drought events combined with the run theory. The linear drought propagation model was constructed and the trigger thresholds of propagation from meteorological drought to hydrological drought in part of the basins of Southwest China were determined. The results indicate that the DRT in Southwest China is 2-7 months and the sensitivity distribution of hydrological drought is consistent with the drought translation rate of meteorological drought. The duration of hydrological drought event is longer in the basins with smaller propagation threshold of drought intensity.