Currently in Miami — August 4, 2023: Rain still around, and the heat continues

The weather, currently.

More showers and thunderstorms are expected on Friday and over the weekend due to abundant moisture. These will form along the sea breeze close to the coast in the early afternoon and move inland until the evening. Fortunately, warm temperatures in the upper atmosphere will prevent any thunderstorms from becoming too strong. We will flirt with the possibility of more Heat Advisories over the weekend as heat index values reach 105-108 degrees, with air temperatures in the low to mid 90s each afternoon. Whether or not these are issued will depend on the amount of rain and cloud cover each of the next few days.

El tiempo, actualmente.

Se esperan más aguaceros y tormentas eléctricas el viernes y durante el fin de semana debido a la abundante humedad en el aire. Estos se formarán a lo largo de la brisa marina cerca de la costa a primera hora de la tarde y se moverán hacia el interior hasta la noche. Afortunadamente, las temperaturas cálidas en los altos niveles de la atmósfera evitarán que las tormentas se tornen demasiado fuertes. Habrá posibilidad de más Advertencias de Calor durante el fin de semana a medida que los índices de calor alcancen los 105-108 grados, con temperaturas del aire en los rangos bajo a medio de los 90 cada tarde. Si estas se emiten o no dependerá de la cantidad de lluvia y la nubosidad durante los próximos días.

—John Morales

What you need to know, currently.

Government officials in Iran suddenly declared a nationwide holiday due to ‘unprecedented heat’ this week, an alarming development in this record-breaking warm year.

Shops, government offices, banks, and schools have been closed across Iran since Wednesday, and reports say the nationwide shutdown could be extended further. One report calls it the first-ever nationwide shutdown due to heat in world history. On Tuesday, the heat index at Persian Gulf International Airport in southern Iran reached 149°F (65.0°C).

A new daily record in electricity consumption during last month’s heatwave in Iran have prompted some inside Iran to speculate that the shutdown is more likely due to a shortage of hydropower generating capacity, perhaps due to government mismanagement of water resources.

Power outages were frequent during last year’s nationwide protests, but this year — despite higher temperatures — electricity has been more reliable, meaning that government water managers may have drawn down reservoirs beyond critical levels in an attempt to prevent public outrage under the new president Ebrahim Raisi.

Power consumption has also hit record highs in recent weeks in Egypt, and power outages are occurring in Iraq and Lebanon.

—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.

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