New government maps show almost the entire West is in drought and it’s not even summer yet: “This is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented transfer, Southern California officers declared a water shortage emergency and asked roughly 6 million residents to limit all outdoor watering to just once a week.  

"We knew climate change would stress our water provides and we have been preparing for it however we didn't know it will occur this quick," mentioned Gloria Gray, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.  

The most recent authorities maps present almost all the West is in drought, and 95% of California is struggling severe or excessive drought.

"That is actual. That is critical. This is unprecedented," said Adel Hagekhalil, basic supervisor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  

California is just not alone as reservoirs across the West are draining.  

Lake Mead, the most important reservoir within the nation fashioned by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, wants a brand new pump to ensure water can flow to Las Vegas. 

"The issue with climate change is that it takes all the historic patterns and kind of shifts them," NASA scientist Dr. JT Reager instructed CBS News' Ben Tracy. 

Reager stated the West is in a 22-year megadrought, as climate change makes it hotter and drier. 

"We're simply starting to see the dominoes fall. It is drier, we're beginning to see less water in our reservoirs, and we have fires, and in California, there's simply this series of penalties that we anticipate," mentioned Reager.