The drought had originally started when an area of high pressure (about 4 miles high and 2,000 miles long) on the Pacific creating a “barricade” preventing storms from coming in. Instead, the storms were deflected into Alaska, Canada and the East Coast. This particular barricade is more stubborn than the one from the 1976-1977 drought. Some scientists believe that this is because of climate change. The drought has gotten so bad that more than 50% of CA is in what is known as an “exceptional drought”. California has experienced some storms over the year but we can’t depend on the rain to quench our thirst for water. We have to conserve water on our own. It is our only chance.
