Currently in Miami — June 21, 2023: Another hot day with scattered to numerous thunderstorms; Otro día caluroso con tormentas dispersas a numerosas

The weather, currently.

Stormy weather will continue across South Florida through mid-week as low pressure prevails over the southeastern United States. Coupled with high levels of moisture coming in from the south, this unstable atmosphere will promote scattered to numerous thunderstorms on Wednesday, peaking during the late afternoon into early evening hours. Relatively weak winds will make for slow-moving showers and thunderstorms that will maintain the flood risk we’ve been experiencing this week, especially in urban areas with poor drainage. Fortunately, these storms are unlikely to become severe. Meanwhile, it will remain hot with temperatures in the low 90s and heat indices in the triple-digits.

El tiempo, currently.

El tiempo tormentoso continuará en el sur de Florida hasta mediados de semana a medida que prevalece un área de baja presión sobre el sureste de los Estados Unidos. Junto con altos niveles de humedad provenientes del sur, esta atmósfera inestable promoverá tormentas eléctricas dispersas a numerosas el miércoles, alcanzando su punto máximo durante el final de la tarde hasta las primeras horas de la noche. Los vientos relativamente débiles harán que estas lluvias se muevan lentamente, lo que mantendrá el riesgo de inundaciones que hemos estado experimentando esta semana, especialmente en áreas urbanas con drenaje deficiente. Afortunadamente, es poco probable que estas tormentas se vuelvan severas. Mientras tanto, permanecerá cálido con temperaturas en el rango bajo de los 90 grados e índices de calor de tres dígitos.

—John Morales

What you need to know, currently.

The summer solstice is one of my favorite holidays, celebrating the peak of life — both its warmth and its impermanence. Some version of the solstice is celebrated in nearly every culture, whether it’s block parties and barbeque, or holding hands around a bonfire in Scandanavia. It’s the fleetingness of life, of course, that makes it so special. That is what the solstice is all about.

Solstice comes from the Latin words sol (Sun) and sistere (to stand still). It’s a moment when the sun literally stands still in the sky in relation to the other stars, and happens twice per year when Earth’s axis of rotation tilts to its most extreme point — 23.44 degrees.

In June, the Earth’s axis tilts towards the sun, creating 24-hours of daylight for places north of the Arctic Circle, and 24-hours of darkness for places south of the Antarctic Circle. Everywhere on Earth experiences either their longest or shortest night of the year.

In Sweden, one of the northernmost countries on Earth, the solstice is a major event called midsommar. In Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, the time between sunset and sunrise is only 5 hours and 27 minutes, and parties last all night.

To celebrate this year’s solstice, here’s an excerpt from my friend (and favorite poet)’s newest collection: Ephemera, by Sierra DeMulder.

—Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

Currently is entirely member funded, and right now we need your support!

Today we’re starting our annual summer membership drive — with a goal to double our membership base over the next six weeks which will guarantee this service can continue throughout this year’s hurricane season. We’ll need 747 new members by July 31 to make this goal happen.

If these emails mean something important to you — and more importantly, if the idea of being part of a community that’s building a weather service for the climate emergency means something important to you — please chip in just $5 a month to continue making this service possible.

Thank you!!