New government maps show almost all of the West is in drought and it isn’t even summer but: “That is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water shortage emergency and requested roughly 6 million residents to limit all outside watering to just once every week.  

"We knew local weather change would stress our water supplies and we have been getting ready for it but we did not know it could occur this fast," said Gloria Grey, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.  

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

"This is real. This is serious. That is unprecedented," said Adel Hagekhalil, normal supervisor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  

California shouldn't be 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, needs a brand new pump to ensure water can movement to Las Vegas. 

"The problem with local weather change is that it takes all of the historical patterns and type of shifts them," NASA scientist Dr. JT Reager told CBS News' Ben Tracy. 

Reager mentioned the West is in a 22-year megadrought, as local weather change makes it hotter and drier. 

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