"More than half of California is now under the most severe level of drought for the first time since the federal government began issuing regular drought reports in the late 1990s, according to new data released Thursday.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report, in July roughly 58% of California was considered to be experiencing an "exceptional" drought -- the harshest on a five-level scale.
California drought hits new record high
A federal report says more than half of California is now in an exceptional drought and that current drought conditions are the worst in the state's history.

This is the first year that any part of California has seen that level of drought, let alone more than half of it, said Mark Svoboda, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center, which issued the report."

Joseph Serna reports for the Los Angeles Times July 31, 2014. [2]