California record drought: 58 percent of state in 'exceptional drought'
California record drought has spread across 58 percent of the state. Northern California is now in about as bad shape as the rest of the state in the now three-year California record drought.
A sign alerts visitors to water conservation efforts at the state Capitol, in Sacramento, Calif., earlier this month. The California record drought has spread to 58 percent of the state, according to latest figures.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP/File
SAN FRANCISCO
Federal聽drought聽monitors say 58 percent of聽California聽now is locked in their highest category of聽drought.
That ranking Thursday by the U.S.聽Drought聽Monitor marks a 22-percent, one-week jump in聽California聽territory suffering what monitors call "exceptional聽drought."
Climate monitors say those latest figures show Northern聽California聽is in about as bad shape as the rest of the state in the now three-year聽drought.
Exceptional聽drought聽is classified as featuring widespread loss of crops and pasture. The category also signifies water shortages in streams and reservoirs severe enough to make for a water emergency.