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

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officers 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've been getting ready for it but we didn't know it will occur this quick," stated Gloria Grey, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Administrators.  

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

"This is actual. That is critical. That is unprecedented," said Adel Hagekhalil, general manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  

California just isn't 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 new pump to ensure water can circulation to Las Vegas. 

"The problem with local weather change is that it takes all the historical patterns and kind of shifts them," NASA scientist Dr. JT Reager instructed CBS Information' Ben Tracy. 

Reager mentioned 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 starting to see less water in our reservoirs, and we have fires, and in California, there's just this collection of penalties that we anticipate," mentioned Reager.