Climate Change Drives Severe Droughts in the American West

New research reveals that rising temperatures have become the main factor intensifying droughts, surpassing reduced rainfall as a cause.

A study by UCLA and NOAA scientists found that climate change increased the severity of the 2020-2022 Western drought by 61% due to higher temperatures, with only 39% attributed to reduced precipitation.
Since 2000, evaporative demand, driven by rising temperatures, has surpassed reduced rainfall as the primary cause of droughts in the Western U.S.
The research indicates that climate change accounts for 80% of the increase in evaporative demand since 2000, with this figure rising to over 90% during drought periods.
Projections suggest that severe droughts, once rare events, could occur every six years by the late 21st century if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
The findings highlight an urgent need to reduce emissions and adapt water management strategies to address the new reality of temperature-driven droughts.