Scientists continue to publish new drought reconstructions indicating there were far more frequent and severe drought periods in the past several thousand years than anything observed in the modern period. 1
California baked in two serious droughts about 1,100 years ago. The first lasting 220 years and the second 140 years. Each was much more intense than the dry spells Californians are experiencing at present. It's important to note that this was long before there were SUV's or coal fired power plants.