"CORVALLIS, Oregon -- The climate's 'new normal' for most of the coming century will parallel the long-term drought that hit western North America from 2000 to 2004 -- the most severe drought in 800 years - scientists report in a study published Sunday."

"'The severity and incidence of climatic extremes, including drought, have increased as a result of climate warming,' the researchers said, adding that these long-term trends are consistent with a 21st century 'megadrought.'

Crops and forests died and river basins dried, but as bad as conditions were during the 2000-04 drought, in the future they may be seen as the good old days, a group of 10 researchers warned Sunday in the journal 'Nature Geoscience.'"

Environment News Service had the story July 30, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Scientists Warn It’S the ‘New Norm’ After Worst Drought in 800 Years" (Toronto Globe and Mail) [3]

"Dust Bowl, 1988 Both Eclipse 2012 Drought, Scientists Say" (ClimateWire) [4]