New government maps show nearly all of the West is in drought and it’s not even summer season yet: “That is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water scarcity emergency and requested roughly 6 million residents to limit all outdoor watering to only as soon as a week.  

"We knew local weather change would stress our water provides and we have been making ready for it however we didn't know it would happen this fast," mentioned Gloria Gray, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.  

The most recent authorities maps show nearly all the West is in drought, and 95% of California is suffering extreme or excessive drought.

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

California just isn't alone as reservoirs across the West are draining.  

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the nation formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, needs a brand new pump to make sure water can movement to Las Vegas. 

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

Reager stated 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's drier, we're beginning to see less water in our reservoirs, and we've got fires, and in California, there's just this series of consequences that we anticipate," stated Reager.