Nation The intense dry spell in the West is worst ‘megadrought’ in 1,200 years, new study says February 14, 2022February 15, 2022 Doyle Rice, USA TODAY Comments Off on The intense dry spell in the West is worst ‘megadrought’ in 1,200 years, new study says The dry spell that has parched the western U.S. the past 22 years is the region's worst "megadrought" since at least the year 800, a new study shows.