California and Nevada Are Now 100 Percent in Drought

California and Nevada are now both “100 percent in drought,” according to a federal monitoring system, with the dry conditions fueling concerns over water supply shortages and wildfires.

“With dire drought conditions, rapidly decreasing snowpack, and low reservoir levels, concern for wildfire season is growing,” the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) said in a recent update.

While the agency said both California and Nevada are fully drought-stricken, around three-quarters of each is experiencing the highest levels of drought conditions—”Extreme” or “Exceptional.”

The dry conditions have prompted Nevada authorities to outlaw around 31 percent of the grass in the Las Vegas area in a bid to conserve water. Legislation signed Friday by Gov. Steve Sisolak made Nevada the first in the nation to enact a permanent ban on certain categories of grass.