Moderate to exceptional drought covered a new high of 64% of the lower 48 states as of September 11; just 21% of the lower 48 states was drought free, which is down from 56% at the same time in 2011.
“The drought is the worst to strike the U.S. since the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s and lengthy droughts of the 1950s. It came on suddenly and largely without warning, and although the main trigger was most likely a La Niña event in the tropical Pacific Ocean, the drought was exacerbated by extremely hot temperatures during the spring and summer. July, for example, was the hottest month on record in the U.S., and the summer was the third-hottest on record, narrowly losing out to 2011 and 1936. Climate studies have shown that the odds of severe heat waves are increasing due to manmade climate change.”
— Joe Romm, ClimateProgress
Meanwhile, pro-fossil fuel groups have already spent $153 million on TV advertisements either pushing coal, oil and natural gas or attacking renewable energy during the presidential campaign. By comparison, groups supporting renewable energy have spent only $41 million on ads.
U.S. Drought Monitor:
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
Pro-Fossil Fuel Groups Outspend Clean Energy Advocates 4-1 In Television Campaign Ads
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/09/14/850181/pro-fossil-fuel-groups-outspend-clean-energy-advocates-4-1-in-television-campaign-ads/#more-850181
Fossil Fuel Industry Ads Dominate TV Campaign