Currently in Portland — September 13, 2023: The warmup continues

The weather, currently.

The warmup continues, and Wednesday will be the final day of clouds this week before temps jump up for a few days. That said, Wednesday will be a perfect late summer/early fall day with high temps in the mid-70s and a properly cool morning and evening.

If you’re not as ready to embrace fall as I am, start making your weekend plans now. It’s going to be hot and sunny so it’ll be a good time for any outdoor activities you might be into, especially if they involve proximity to water. (I’ll be hiding indoors waiting for the next cloudy day.)

— Stella Harris

What you need to know, currently.

Officials say more than 5,000 people have been killed in Libya after intense rainfall broke through dams and unleashed a torrent of water toward the coastal city of Derna on Monday.

As much as 25% of Derna (pop. 125,000) was washed away by the floods, and local responders have been absolutely overwhelmed. The UN and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have mobilized to bring relief to the region.

The rainfall was caused by Storm Daniel, a “medicane” — a hurricane-like cyclonic storm that formed in the central Mediterranean Sea and also brought intense rainfall to parts of Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. Medicanes like Daniel are expected to grow stronger as the Mediterranean Sea warms due to fossil fuel-driven climate change.

Libya has been enmeshed in civil conflict for much of the past 12 years, so some key infrastructure — like dams — have fallen into disrepair or damage. Worse, internal conflict has delayed aid shipments. Even before the floods, Derna had no functioning hospital due in part to the long-running conflict with the ruling government of western Libya.

“This is not just a natural disaster, this is a human disaster as well as a result of the neglect of the city,” Hani Shennib, president of the National Council on US Libya Relations told Al Jazeera.

To support the relief efforts in Libya, consider donating to the Islamic Relief fund.

— Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

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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 season. Find mutual aid network near you and join, or donate to support existing networks: