Worst mega-drought since the Dark Ages hits the West

The current mega-drought gripping the US Southwest is the region’s driest period in 1,200 years, a new study has found.

The mega-drought – defined as one which lasts for 20 years or more – is the most severe since at least the year 800AD, due to soaring heat and low rainfall from summer 2020 until summer 2021.

According to the new study, published on Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, the current mega-drought has exceeded one which occurred in the late 1500s.