Will the USA Drought Crisis Worsen in 2023?

The USA Drought is not getting any better anytime soon. Each year, the USA drought seems to worsen, with more and more states suffering from extreme water shortages. But what does the future hold for this crisis? Will conditions improve or worsen in 2023? Let’s take a look at the current USA drought summary and explore what we can expect in 2023.

The Current USA Drought Summary

As of 2020, over 36 million people—roughly 11% of the U.S. population—were living in areas that were experiencing an extreme or exceptional drought, according to data from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Over half of all states were experiencing some level of drought and nearly one-third had severe to exceptional droughts.

The most severely affected states include California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. These states have seen their reservoirs drop by alarming amounts over recent years as a result of both below-average precipitation levels and increased demand from population growth and development.

What We Can Expect In 2023

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer when it comes to predicting how the USA drought crisis will develop over the next three years. However, there are a few factors that could play a role in determining whether conditions improve or worsen in 2023: climate change and population growth/development patterns.

Climate change is already having a huge impact on weather patterns across the country and these effects are only expected to increase over time as temperatures continue to rise around the world. This means that we can likely expect drier conditions to persist or even worsen in many parts of the country as we move into 2023 if climate trends continue on their current trajectory.  Additionally, population growth/development patterns will also play a role as increased demand for water puts additional strain on already limited resources in many areas across America.

It’s clear that there is no easy answer when it comes to predicting what will happen with our nation’s drought crisis over the next three years—but one thing is certain: now is not the time for complacency when it comes to conserving water! Property managers and sustainability directors should be taking steps now to ensure that their properties are prepared for whatever lies ahead in terms of water conservation efforts and should be helping their tenants do their part as well. Together we can make sure that our nation’s water resources are used responsibly so that everyone has access to clean drinking water now—and for generations to come!