California Governor Gavin Newsom has decided to add more counties to the state's drought emergency declaration as a new heatwave is scorching much of the western US.  Fifty of California's 58 counties are now under a drought emergency after the Governor signed a new emergency order for nine more counties on Thursday.

The Governor said about 42 percent of California's population now are in counties that will fall under the guidelines and requirements set for a drought emergency. The Golden State is home to over 40 million residents. The Governor urged residents to voluntarily reduce water consumption. "We are hopeful that people will take that mindset brought into the last drought and extend that forward with a 15 percent voluntary reduction not only on residents, but industrial, commercial operations and agricultural operations," he noted.

In response to the dry conditions affecting the state, Newsom had declared a drought emergency in two Northern California counties in April and significantly expanded the emergency proclamation to 41 of the state's 58 counties in May.  "The hots are getting hotter and the dries are getting drier - that is the reality of climate change," said a tweet from Newsom's office.

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