Currently in Portland — August 30, 2023: A beautifully cloudy day

The weather, currently.

In my ongoing fall fantasies, yesterday I indulged in both hot tea AND soup, and it was divine. I even put on a sweater. And although we’re certainly not done with warm days this year, this week continues to be a nice break. Wednesday will bring clouds again, and another chance of showers—though a slight one. That chance will increase into Wednesday night when temps drop from a daytime high of around 75 down to a blissfully cool 59. Nighttime temps are finally cool enough to bundle up with some of the good blankets. I hope you’re all enjoying this cool reprieve as much as I am!

— Stella Harris

What you need to know, currently.

Hurricane Idalia will make landfall Wednesday morning in Florida’s Big Bend region — becoming the first major hurricane to hit that region since records begin in 1851.

Idalia will bring "catastrophic", "unprecedented" storm surge to Florida, according to the National Weather Service. Maximum storm surge will be 10-15 feet in the Big Bend region between Tallahassee and the Tampa Bay area — with powerful waves on top that will be strong enough to scour away houses and buildings from immediate coastal regions. This region is exceptionally flat, both offshore and onshore, and Idalia could push the level of the ocean as much as 10 miles inland.

On Tuesday, the Florida Highway Patrol went door-to-door in areas of the Big Bend that are under mandatory evacuation, offering free rides inland. President Biden has already pre-approved a federal disaster declaration in anticipation of a long recovery process.

This link will provide a full radar loop of Hurricane Idalia’s approach and landfall in Florida.

—Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

One of my favorite organizations, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, serves as a hub of mutual aid efforts focused on climate action in emergencies — like Hurricane Idalia. Find mutual aid network near you and join, or donate to support networks in Florida: