The U.S. West is broadly experiencing the worst megadrought in 1,200 years, made more intense by climate change, scientists say.
There’s little relief in sight for the multiyear megadrought that’s sapped Western U.S. reservoirs, intensified wildfires and helped drive up costs in California’s bread basket for the nation, forecasters say.
“With nearly 60% of the continental U.S. experiencing minor to exceptional drought conditions, this is the largest drought coverage we’ve seen in the U.S. since 2013,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief operational prediction branch, at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. The last time the state faced a drought nearing this magnitude, such as in 2014, food economists said consumers could expect prices to rise about 3% directly related to water conditions. An inflationary post-pandemic recovery is also currently a factor.
California’s water use went up in January despite calls for conservation, though Gov. Gavin Newsom has stopped short of mandatory cutbacks. Current predictions estimate the state will see about 57% of the historical median runoff this April through July, Alan Haynes, hydrologist in charge for the California Nevada River Forecast Center of NOAA, told the Associated Press.