Currently in Portland — September 8, 2023: Here comes the weekend warmup

The weather, currently.

High temps Friday through Sunday will range from the high 70s to the low 80s, so this is the perfect weekend for folks not ready to let go of summer yet. I, of course, will be living in my fall fantasy.

I’m officially on the lookout for pumpkins and I have some fall seeds to plant this weekend, too. One of those seeds is for a clover groundcover to blend into the lawn. While there are lots of lawn alternative options, clover is one of the easiest. Because it doesn’t grow too tall, mowing isn’t as urgent. And its flowers provide food for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Also, importantly, it’s a bit more drought tolerant than many common lawn grasses. Whether you’re enjoying the sun or preparing for fall, I hope you have a lovely weekend.

— Stella Harris

What you need to know, currently.

The 2023 hurricane season continues on a hyperactive pace.

On Thursday, Hurricane Lee underwent textbook rapid intensification from a Category 1 to a Category 4 in just 12 hours. It’s expected to become a Category 5 on Friday — and potentially one of the strongest hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Tropical Storm Margot also formed on Thursday, way out off the coast of Africa — the season’s 14th storm of the year so far, matching the historical average for an entire season with nearly a week to go until the season’s midpoint.

Since Atlantic records began in 1851, only three other season have had 14 named storms this early in the year — 2005, 2011, 2020. Only 1933, 2004, and 2005 have had 3 or more Cat 4+ hurricanes so early in the year. If you know your hurricanes, you know that those seasons are not the ones you want to be compared against.

It’s likely that Hurricane Lee will stay relatively safely offshore for at least the next 7 days or so, although some models have it coming worryingly close to New England or Atlantic Canada by September 17th or 18th.

— 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: