SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Drought Monitor released it's updated map for drought conditions in California on Thursday with more areas now covered by the agency's highest category.
Now, roughly 16% of the state is in Exceptional Drought, the highest level for the U.S. Drought Monitor. Over 73% of California remains in the next highest level, Extreme Drought. Over 37 million Californians are in a drought area.
The new region includes portions of the Coastal Range mountains, north of the Bay Area.
On May 10, Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded a drought emergency declaration to 41 of California’s 58 counties amid “acute water supply shortages” in northern and central areas and said a further expansion is likely. The drought state of emergency proclamation was significantly expanded from Newsom's original proclamation on April 21.
The top level drought has major implications, like water rationing and damage to trees and wildlife.
READ MORE ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT BY ABC10:
- Running out of water and time: How unprepared is California for 2021’s drought?
- What 'exceptional' drought really means for California
- 2 million Sacramento-area residents may soon be asked to conserve water
- Drought concerns: new website shows well water users whether they face a water shortage
- California drought update: Sacramento, San Joaquin, Placer counties under state of emergency
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