Washington residents will continue to feel the heat, as high temperatures and drought conditions are likely to persist into the fall, according to climate and weather experts.

The entire state has been under a formal state of emergency because of drought since April, fueling wildfire risk and straining water supplies.

Jason Gerlich, regional drought information coordinator for the National Integrated Drought Information System, said dry conditions since January are only compounding an already devastating snow drought.

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"The last five years have been the warmest on record for every single Pacific Northwest and Missouri River Basin state since tracking began 130 years ago," Gerlich reported. "These are the places that rely on the development of that snowpack for our water supply."

Emergency drought declarations provide state agencies with flexible, short-term tools to manage scarce water supplies, such as emergency water permits and temporary transfers of water rights. But emergency declarations can only do so much.

Brad Rippey, meteorologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said nationwide, the beef cow inventory has hit its lowest point in 75 years — a direct result of back-to-back droughts, which have forced herd liquidations since 2012.

"There's just not enough forage, there's not enough hay, not enough feed to go around, and it becomes a very expensive proposition to maintain herds," Rippey observed.

State leaders have taken some steps to support farmers and ranchers to adapt to drier conditions. The Washington State Department of Ecology is creating a voluntary drought insurance program along the Columbia River, which would allow farmers and ranchers to lease water to prevent shutoffs.