How the US west's megadrought looked in 2000

Drought intensity measured during the last week in August was:

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Guardian graphic. Source: The US Drought Monitor. A study this year found that the current dry period, which began in the year 2000, is the worst in 1,200 years. Data from the US Drought Monitor, a federal government monitoring system, offers a snapshot of how these last 22 years have unfolded.