Currently in Portland — August 7, 2023: Clouds sticking around

The weather, currently.

The expected hot weather didn’t quite manifest, and I’m not mad about it! The extra clouds were a lovely break, and we even got a few sprinkles and breezes that had the taste of fall. Unfortunately, summer is far from done with us yet, and we’ve still got more 90-degree days coming. In fact, some days in the 100s might be around the corner, too. Luckily, we’ve got a little time before that happens, and Monday will be another lovely, partly-cloudy day.

— Stella Harris

What you need to know, currently.

Alaska is warming, fast. Over the weekend, two ominous events at opposite ends of the state were the latest bits of evidence.

Utqiaġvik, the northernmost-town in the US, had its hottest day in history on Saturday — 25°F (13.9°C) higher than normal for the date. Since Utqiaġvik is right on the Arctic Ocean, the average low temperature in early August is just a few degrees above freezing. This weekend, temperatures soared to 76°F.

Then, a glacial outburst flood on Sunday near Juneau scoured away homes and riverbank after the largest surge of water yet from the quickly-melting Mendenhall Glacier. The river that forms from the glacier’s meltwater reached its highest-ever flood stage after an ice dam collapsed that was trapping an entire lake. Magnificent storytelling from the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center shows exactly how this now-annual phenomenon began 12 years ago.

On average, the Arctic is warming about four times faster than the rest of the world, and Alaska is one of those places where the environment has already been totally transformed.

—Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

Currently is now a member of the Covering Climate Now partnership, a resource-sharing initiative devoted to making sure the biggest story in human history is told in ways that resonate with everyone.

Take a look at the list of our new partners and maybe find a new favorite podcast or website to support!