New authorities maps present practically all of the West is in drought and it is not even summer time yet: “That is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water scarcity emergency and asked roughly 6 million residents to restrict all outdoor watering to only once per week.  

"We knew climate change would stress our water provides and we have been preparing for it but we did not know it will occur this quick," stated Gloria Grey, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.  

The newest government maps show nearly all of the West is in drought, and 95% of California is struggling extreme or extreme drought.

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

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

Lake Mead, the most important reservoir in the nation fashioned by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, wants a brand new pump to ensure water can circulation to Las Vegas. 

"The issue with local weather change is that it takes all of the historical patterns and form 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 now we have fires, and in California, there's just this collection of consequences that we anticipate," stated Reager.