Currently in Denver — September 13, 2023: Mostly Sunny with Possible Storms

The weather, currently.

Mornings are getting chillier, but high temperatures are sitting around a warm 80 degrees. On this hump day, you can expect mostly sunny skies with a 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms between 1 and 7 pm. These past couple of wetter days and continued rainy-ness have left us with some higher-than-normal humidity, reaching as high as 81%. Apply hair product appropriately.

Walking outside to a dewy windshield reminded me that the transition to fall has begun. For Denver, it’s more like the season of experiencing 3 seasons in one day has begun, so start thinking about those layered outfits.

— Julia Dinmore

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: