Currently in Boston — July 11, 2023: Back to sunshine

The weather, currently.

Heavy downpours are now north of southern New England and clearing, at least of the partial variety takes place overnight. Temperatures will be in the 60s when you get up Tuesday. With quite a bit of sunshine look for readings well into the 80s Tuesday afternoon with moderate, not oppressive levels of humidity. It’s hot on Wednesday with highs in the 80s to near 90, cooler at the beaches. Humidity is typical for mid-summer, but again not oppressive. It does feel more tropical Thursday with warm air and more PM clouds. Showers are likely Friday, but with a little luck are out of here for at least most of the weekend.

— Dave Epstein

What you can do, currently.

The climate emergency doesn’t take the summer off. In fact — as we’ve been reporting — we’re heading into an El Niño that could challenge historical records and is already supercharging weather and climate impacts around the world.

When people understand the weather they are experiencing is caused by climate change it creates a more compelling call to action to do something about it.

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!!

What you need to know, currently.

India’s crucial monsoon rains have had a rollercoaster season so far.

The India-wide rainfall index has now officially shifted to an above-average season — though the season itself has been anything but average. During the onset phase in early June, rains were at least a week late, bringing prolonged heatwaves and droughts across the entire subcontinent. Now, those same rains have shifted into overdrive bringing massive flooding that has swept away cars and homes and bridges.

This “weather whiplash” is a characteristic of climate change, where extra heat in the atmosphere manifests itself in a sped-up hydrologic cycle, paradoxically bringing more intense droughts and more intense floods sometimes to the same place in quick succession.

Monday was the rainiest July day in Delhi in at least 40 years, forcing authorities to close schools. Further north in the Himalayas, more than 700 roads were closed by mudslides and washouts.

—Eric Holthaus