The five-point US Drought Monitor weekly report has placed nearly 82% of California in “extreme” drought - the fourth worst of five drought designations - and about 58% of the state fares even worse at “exceptional” the most severe.
A new dust bowl could be developing with long term droughts. Climate change and its impact on weather patterns has raised the odds of mega-droughts through-out the American Southwest. A study by Cornell University, the University of Arizona and the U.S. Geological Survey raises the likelihood of future 10-year mega-droughts to 80% and 30-year mega-droughts to 50%. While the Southwest dries out, other parts of the US can anticipate more rain and often too much rain much too quickly with resultant flooding and crop damage.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-megadrought-forecast-20140829-story.html