New authorities maps show practically all the West is in drought and it is not even summer season but: “That is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water shortage emergency and requested roughly 6 million residents to restrict all out of doors watering to just once per week.  

"We knew climate change would stress our water provides and we have been getting ready for it however we did not know it could happen this quick," mentioned Gloria Grey, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.  

The latest government maps present practically the entire West is in drought, and 95% of California is struggling extreme or extreme drought.

"This is actual. This is critical. This is unprecedented," mentioned Adel Hagekhalil, normal manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  

California will not be alone as reservoirs across the West are draining.  

Lake Mead, the most important reservoir within the nation shaped by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, needs a brand new pump to make sure water can circulation to Las Vegas. 

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

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

"We're just beginning to see the dominoes fall. It's drier, we're beginning to see much less water in our reservoirs, and we've got fires, and in California, there's just this collection of penalties that we anticipate," said Reager.