The lack of spring snow and warm weather earlier this year caused the Sierra snowpack to evaporate by late May, two months earlier than average, the Weather Channel cited climate scientist Peter Gleick as saying. The Sierra snowpack usually supplies one-third of the state's water. /CFP

Reservoirs in the state are also not adequately replenished. California's second-largest reservoir, Lake Oroville was less than half its average level for late May. /CFP

The drought has affected farmers, forcing them to discard acres of crops that require excessive water supplies. /CFP