Even though air pollution levels have been dropping in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the climate crisis isn’t going to go away. In fact, parts of the US and Mexico could be in line for a “megadrought” in the very near future, scientists warn.

Based on an analysis of precipitation levels since the turn of the century, and how they match up with soil moisture levels recorded by tree rings over the last 1,200 years, future modelling suggests the southwestern North American (SWNA) region could see a drought that’s worse than any in recorded history.

The conditions we’ve seen in the SWNA region since 2000 match up with times of severe drought in the past, the researchers say. It’s possible that a megadrought has already started, though 2019 precipitation levels did offer some respite.

The area covered by the study. (Adapted…