There are experts that are calling this dry spell a megadrought. Fountain (2015) explained in an article that megadroughts may last two or more decades and now California's population of thirty nine million and it's agriculture industry of fifty billion are within it's grip. California may experience some relief on account of El Niño if it were to occur, bringing heavy rainfall with it. However climate change may produce warmer conditions, thus worsening the drought situation in California. .
Perhaps it is the climate change that has brought the drought to such severity. Climate models show slightly wetter regions in Northern California but the wetter regions are accompanied by record rise in temperatures (Fountain, 2015). California experienced the warmest year on record in 2014 and that addes to the severity of the drought. The higher temperature are negatively affecting the snowpacks, which account for a third of California's water supply. Along with reduced snowfall, the rising temperatures are causing the mountain snow to melt earlier, turning snow into rain, thereby drying out the soil faster (Nesbit, 2015). This megadrought may be different than the previous ones experienced by California; this drought may not be driven by precipitation, but instead by the increasing warm temperatures (Nesbit, 2015). .
Changing atmospheric patterns have also been identified as a contributing factor to the severity of the drought. Ridiculously resilient ridge is referred to a block of high pressure that prevents winter storms from reaching California, therefore averting much needed rain from the region (Nesbit, 2015). If this ridge persists, the rainfalls will not be able to provide relief from the severe drought. As the fourth year of the drought continues, can California afford to wait around for the ridge to disappear or take action as soon as possible? This point urgently requires thought at great length.