The Washington Post (July 17, 2014) — The extreme drought in the western states continues unabated as California wraps up its warmest 6-month start to the year on record. While the eastern half of the country was doused with rainfall and cooler than average temperatures over the past week, the West continued to be not only dry but abnormally warm, with temperatures running eight to 12 degrees above average. With no relief of this magnitude in sight, concern about the 2014 California drought has given way to conversations about next year. Jay Lund and Jeffrey Mount, scientists that write for the California Water Blog, don’t have high hopes, and forecast that there’s a 71 percent chance of at least a below normal year in 2015.