In New Mexico, where half the state faces “exceptional drought” conditions, water districts are delaying allotments to farmers and urging them to simply not plant crops if possible. All told, nearly 85% of the West is suffering through drought conditions right now, according to US Drought Monitor. Almost half the region is now in an extreme or exceptional drought, following years of dry, hot condi
![The American West is bracing for a hot, dry, and dangerous summer](https://cdn-ak-scissors.b.st-hatena.com/image/square/e529a1dd77dc170a39850bbeb525c0d2891b53b5/height=288;version=1;width=512/https%3A%2F%2Fwp.technologyreview.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FGettyImages-1314059711.jpg%3Fresize%3D1200%2C600)