Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOS ANGELES — Firefighters are still contending with a wildfire that's forced thousands to evacuate their homes. The fire is fueled by drought conditions that were already sweeping the state, and which could impact people across the country.
Stubborn flames typically associated with summer's brutal heat refuse to concede this battle of the seasons. This morning, California's latest fire has slowed down, but is still burning outside Los Angeles.
It's a destructive symptom of a larger problem — extreme dry weather.
Parts of 11 drought-ridden states have now been deemed natural disaster areas, and California is experiencing its driest year since the state started measuring rainfall in 1849.
On Friday, Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency, asking everyone to cut their water use by 20 percent.
"Hopefully it will rain eventually. But in the meantime, we have to do our part," Brown said.
With the jet stream seemingly trapped to the north, California is missing out on much-needed rain and snow.
Rancher Justin Greer told CNBC that no rain means no grass for cattle to graze on. And that means spending more on feed.
"We don't just need a normal rainfall, we need above normal to get back to zero, we're so far behind," Greer said. "A lot of guys are going have to reduce their cow heard by significant amounts — 20, 30, 50 percent — just to continue moving forward."
For California's vibrant vineyards, less rain means fewer grapes.
"The availability could become less which might mean I produce a little less wine until we get some decent rainfall again," said vintner Steve Autry.
In a part of the country known for growing food, the impact of an extreme drought runs deeper than the flimsy snowpack now lining the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
"It does affect you if you want low food prices and high-quality food," Autry said.
California isn't the only one in a drought, Nevada entered its third year of drought conditions. This week, the agriculture department designated nine Nevada counties as primary natural disaster areas due to the drought.
The federal water master in the region says if the dry conditions continue, a priority water distribution system may be needed.
Farmers and ranchers in the nine designated counties qualify for natural disaster assistance, as do 25 counties in Utah.
Contributing: Keith McCord
