Report: Cities with Worst Drought Conditions are all in California
SACRAMENTO, June 17 (UPI) — The nine cities with the worst drought conditions in the United States are in California, where several cities are experiencing exceptional drought — the worst classification, according to a new report released Wednesday.
California experiences Meditterranean climate, in which most of precipitation falls during October to March. More than 80 percent of California’s rainfall occurs during the colder season. The summer season is expected to worsen the state’s drought due to low seasonal precipitation, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report.
In 2014, the entire state of California was under at least severe drought conditions and it was the first time the state recorded exceptional drought.
Cities experiencing the worst drought conditions include Hanford, Merced, Modesto, and Fresno, which all have been experiencing exceptional drought coverage since the start of the year.
Yuba City, Lancaster-Palmdale, Chico, Sacramento and Bakersfield are all experiencing complete extreme drought coverage and at least 70 percent or more exceptional drought coverage for the first half of the year.
As the state continues its fourth year of drought, California’s State Water Resources Control Board recently approved emergency drought regulations that aim to reduce water use by 25 percent, a move called for by California Gov. Jerry Brown.
Cities and water agencies across California must now reduce water usage by amounts from 8 percent to 36 percent following the board’s decision.
