The 'California's 21st Century Drought' meme cycle refers to a collection of images and infographics highlighting the severe, multi-decade dry spell affecting the Western United States. Often featuring side-by-side comparisons of reservoirs like Lake Oroville or satire regarding the state's strict water usage laws, these memes use dark humor to cope with the reality of climate change. The trend surged during the record-breaking heatwaves of the early 2020s, with users pairing skeletal figures or desolate landscapes with captions about waiting for a single drop of rain. It serves as a commentary on environmental policy, urban development, and the surreal nature of living in a perpetual state of emergency.