The drought is being attributed to a combination of hotter than normal weather, some record setting, and lack of rainfall during the Spring months.
Agricultural losses, disruptions to inland water transport, increased wildfires, and threats to forestry, energy production, and human health are all effects of the drought situation, but not everything has been negatively impacted. Tourism, viticulture (the cultivation of grapes) and the production of solar energy all saw benefits from this drought.