California and parts of western Oregon witnessed their driest year on record in 2013, according to statistics from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Among the cities shattering their previous record dry year in 2013 were San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, Medford, Ore., Salem, Ore. and Eugene, Ore

 85 percent of California was categorized in severe drought, according to the Dec. 24 Drought Monitor analysis, shown below. Much of the central valley as well as Kern, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties are considered in extreme drought, one drought category higher in the analysis.

Almost 60 percent of Oregon is in drought, primarily in the southern half of the state.

Mandatory water conservation orders have been ordered for parts of California's Central Valley. According to a story in the Sacramento Bee, these water conservation orders could be the most severe in the area since the drought of 1976-77.

Critical to water supply in this part of the country is the buildup of winter snowpack in the mountains, whose meltwater in the spring replenishes reservoirs.

According to the National Resources Conservation Service, snowpack (or more precisely, the estimated water content in the snow) is running only 23-34 percent of average in the Sierra, and a paltry 18-22 percent of average in the Oregon Cascades for the end of the year.