A new study suggests the spell of ultra-dry weather we’re experiencing rivals the dust bowl of the 1930s. With 54.6 percent of the country in a drought, experts are culling through scientific data from the Palmer Drought Severity Index compiled through the end of June of this year, and the numbers, are not shocking to those of us with brown lawns.

That data suggest that by a very slight margin, the current drought actually covers more land mass than the famous 1936 drought. Regardless of how they interpret the information, analysts say that this drought still ranks in the top 10 since 1895. The worst of the dust bowl years was in July of 1934 when 80 percent of the country was in a drought.

To add bad to worse, this month is traditionally the hottest month of the year, so predictions are that the drought could actually worsen. The report, which is being released today, is a compilation of climate statistics. It offers neither a reason for the drought, nor analysis.