New authorities maps show nearly all of the West is in drought and it’s not even summer time but: “That is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented transfer, Southern California officers declared a water shortage emergency and requested roughly 6 million residents to limit all outdoor watering to only once per week.  

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

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

"That is actual. That is severe. That is unprecedented," stated Adel Hagekhalil, normal supervisor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  

California shouldn't be alone as reservoirs across the West are draining.  

Lake Mead, the largest 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 climate change is that it takes all of the historic patterns and form of shifts them," NASA scientist Dr. JT Reager told CBS Information' Ben Tracy. 

Reager said the West is in a 22-year megadrought, as local weather change makes it hotter and drier. 

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