Abrupt changes in the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation—a societally relevant tipping element of the climate system—are believed to have profound impacts on tropical precipitation across all continents. Despite key advances over the past few decades, many fundamental questions about abrupt changes in tropical precipitation remain unresolved. For example, the precise spatial extent, internal dynamics, and timing of these changes are still uncertain. These issues have gained even more relevance as anthropogenic climate change forces specific compartments of the climate system towards tipping points. This session welcomes contributions that explore abrupt hydroclimate changes in the tropics, using both continental and marine archives from around the world, alongside model-based investigations. By examining past variability in tropical hydroclimates, we aim to sharpen our understanding of potential future scenarios in a warming world.