# US West drought hits 1,200-year low as heat worsens crisis 2026-08-13T13:40:16+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The American West has been in a prolonged drought since around 2000, and by 2021 it became the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years, according to climate records reconstructed from tree rings. Research reported by the World Economic Forum estimates that human-caused warming accounted for about 42% of the soil-moisture deficit between 2000 and 2021, turning a natural dry spell into a deeper water crisis. Higher temperatures increased evaporation, worsening conditions across states like California, Arizona and Nevada. Drought monitoring in February 2022 showed nearly the entire region facing abnormal dryness or drought, with about 4% in the most severe category. The crisis has raised wildfire risks, as dry vegetation and heat make fires more intense. The World Meteorological Organization reports that weather-related disasters have increased fivefold over the past 50 years, though better forecasting has reduced deaths. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: climate change, tree rings, US west drought, water crisis, wildfire risk Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/us-west-drought-hits-1200-year-low-as-heat-worsens-crisis/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/us-west-drought-hits-1200-year-low-as-heat-worsens-crisis/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.