– Share of state experiencing drought conditions (20-year average): 78,717 sq. mi. (71.2% of land area); 1,942,485 people (71.9% of population)

— Moderate drought: 60,051 sq. mi. (54.3% of land area); 1,399,983 people (51.8% of population)

— Severe drought: 37,708 sq. mi. (34.1% of land area); 799,731 people (29.6% of population)

— Extreme drought: 15,185 sq. mi. (13.7% of land area); 278,769 people (10.3% of population)

— Exceptional drought: 2,004 sq. mi. (1.8% of land area); 50,459 people (1.9% of population)

Snowpack is down, forage is down, and fire danger is higher due to drought conditions in Nevada. Three extended and major droughts battered Nevada over the last two decades alone, and officials there have taken action. Out of pure necessity, the Nevada Water Science Center has been developing new techniques to measure, manage, and monitor water supplies to prepare for a parched future.