New government maps present nearly the entire West is in drought and it’s not even summer yet: “This is unprecedented”

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water scarcity emergency and asked roughly 6 million residents to restrict all outside watering to just once per week.  

"We knew climate change would stress our water provides and we have been preparing for it but we didn't know it could happen this fast," said Gloria Grey, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors.  

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

"This is actual. That is critical. That is unprecedented," stated Adel Hagekhalil, common supervisor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  

California isn't alone as reservoirs throughout the West are draining.  

Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir within the nation formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, wants a new pump to ensure water can stream to Las Vegas. 

"The problem with climate change is that it takes all the historic patterns and kind of shifts them," NASA scientist Dr. JT Reager instructed CBS Information' Ben Tracy. 

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

"We're just starting to see the dominoes fall. It's drier, we're starting to see less water in our reservoirs, and we've got fires, and in California, there's just this sequence of consequences that we anticipate," mentioned Reager.