Over the last year, residents of the Midwest have been reporting weather conditions that remind historians of the “Dust Bowl.”

Close to 62% of the United States remain in drought conditions and scientists are reporting that parts of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico are in “exceptional drought conditions.”

A dust storm on December 19th appeared to cover 150 miles of Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico according to satellite images. One person was killed and a dozen injured in car accidents caused be extremely low visibility.

“I definitely think these dust storms will become more common until we get more measurable precipitation,” Jody James of the National Weather Service told NBC.

Farmers are being forced to drill deeper wells as the aquifer that covers most of the Midwest is drying up because of lack of rainfall. The cost to drill a deeper well than standard for the region can cost over $120,000 each. Many farmers are being forced to give up growing more lucrative crops like corn.

According to the US Geological Survey says that in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and southwest Kansas at current rates water may run out in 25 years.