Are winter droughts a new normal?

It’s been nearly three weeks since Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency for the state of California.

Now, after no significant rainfall during what is supposed to be the peak of the state’s rainy season, farmers and city dwellers are growing more concerned.

“I have been cutting back on my lawn watering and on my shower time,” says Sholeh Wolpe, a Los Angeles resident.

“We’ve been going around saving everything we can in five-gallon buckets when we take a shower,” says Lompico resident Matthew Feinstein.

It’s California’s third year of drought. The state averages close to 14 inches of rain from December through March, but so far this year it has gotten only about two inches.

President Barack Obama called Brown last week to pledge the support of federal agencies. Brown has called on Californians to cut their use of water by at least 20 percent.

“Don’t flush more than you have to, don’t shower more than you need to, and turn the water off when you’re shaving or brushing your teeth,” he said. 

California’s State Water Project has said it may soon stop sending water to local agencies, except in emergencies. The decision could affect more than 25 million people.

“This is the first time in the 54-year history of the State Water Project that the projected water supplies for both urban and agricultural users have been zero,” says Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources.

The drought has brought on rare winter wildfires. There were 406 last month compared with none in January 2013.

In the Sierra Nevada, the snowpack water content is at 12 percent of normal levels, thanks to a lack of snowfall. Ski resorts there have had to rely on artificial snow making, and some resorts have closed, laying off workers.

Fishermen have been banned from some drought-ravaged rivers, and farming communities — including planters, processors and truck drivers — are also suffering.

“If we don't get rain in a 30-day-or-so window, we’re going to be pretty much in dire straits,” said farmer Paul Van Leer.

California’s agriculture industry is worth more than $40 billion annually, so no rain could mean food stamps for farmers and food shortages for the United States.

“If I can’t grow any crops, it can’t go to market, and that creates a shortage, and prices go up,” said farmer Andy Domenigoni.

U.S. officials are expected to announce whether they will provide a small amount of federally controlled water to farmers later this month.

Are winter droughts the new normal?

How will the Southwest adapt?

How will regional droughts affect the rest of the country?

We consulted a panel of experts for the Inside Story.

The above panel was assembled for the broadcast of “Inside Story” to discuss.

For future hard-hitting conversations, find Al Jazeera America on your TV.