Here in the southwest the droughts persist. Fire season started early this year, in April, and the sky has been smokey since. The sad part is, 20 years ago we didn't even have a fire season! Or, if we technically did, it was a smoldering couple of remote acres hit by lightning here and there that would put itself out. It surely didn't smoke us out!
Going by the tree rings this past 20-year period is the worst of the last 100 or so years. Worse than the SW's dustbowl era (1930-36). Luckily, we have better water control. But how long will that hold out? All the lakes are ridiculously low. We haven't reached 1" of official rain this year....