megadrought

American  

[meg-uh-drout] / ˈmɛg əˌdraʊt /

noun

1. a severe drought lasting for two or more decades.

   The driest parts of the American West are already in the grips of a megadrought.

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Etymology

Origin of megadrought

First recorded in 2000–05; mega- ( def. ) + drought ( def. )

Example Sentences

The Colorado River, another major water source for Southern California, has shrunk over the last quarter of a century amid a megadrought worsened by rising temperatures.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Scientists have determined that the last 25 years have probably been the driest quarter-century in western North America in 1,200 years, a severe megadrought that research shows is being intensified by rising temperatures.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

Williams said it’s very likely the megadrought since 2000 wouldn’t be on par with the long droughts of centuries ago if it weren’t for the warmer temperatures being unleashed by human-caused climate change.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2024

Last year’s snow came after a megadrought that started around the turn of the century and was one of the worst in more than 1,000 years.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 29, 2024

An example of this is the megadrought in the United States' southwestern region that started in the year 2000 and has continued for more than two decades.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2024