Currently in Miami — October 4, 2023: A pleasant change

The weather, currently.

After a weak front brought drier air to South Florida on Tuesday, generally pleasant weather is expected for the rest of the workweek. Moisture levels are well below normal, although there will be a slight chance of showers along the Atlantic coast. Otherwise, it will be plenty sunny across Miami and Ft Lauderdale throughout this period. Temperatures will climb into the mid to upper 80s, and even as high as 90 degrees in some of the western suburbs, but the lack of humidity will keep it feeling nice compared to recent weeks—closer to the autumnal South Florida feel we are all eagerly anticipating.

El tiempo, actualmente.

Después de que un débil frente trajo aire más seco al sur de Florida el martes, se espera tiempo generalmente agradable durante el resto de la semana laboral. Los niveles de humedad están muy por debajo de lo normal, aunque habrá una ligera probabilidad de aguaceros a lo largo de la costa atlántica. Pero en general habrá mucho sol en Miami y Ft Lauderdale esta semana. Las temperaturas subirán a los rangos medio a alto de los 80 grados, e incluso hasta los 90 grados en algunos de los suburbios del oeste, pero la falta de humedad hará que se sienta agradable en comparación con las últimas semanas, más cerca de la sensación otoñal sur floridana que todos estamos ansiosamente anticipando.

—John Morales

What you need to know, currently.

A US government shutdown just become more likely — again.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted out their leader for the first time in national history. What comes next isn’t readily apparent.

While the House is in a chaos of their own making, no business will get done. And the deal to stop a shutdown last weekend gave only a 45-day window — until November 17th — to formulate and pass funding bills for the entirety of the federal government.

The Washington Post has a good overview (gift link) of all the effects on the environment, climate, and weather operations of the federal government if the government shuts down. Some highlights:

While we are in the middle of an escalating climate emergency, having a functioning federal government is in everyone’s best interest — it helps direct disaster aid, it helps coordinate greenhouse gas regulations, it can stimulate investment in renewable energy.

There’s also a scenario in all this mess that Republicans effectively lose control of the House — and form a coalition government with Democrats — something that has hardly ever been tested in national American politics but is common in other parts of the world. Here’s hoping.

— 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: