Currently in Boston — September 13, 2023: Flood watch posted

The weather, currently.

We had a break in the action today without shower activity and even some sunshine. Unfortunately clouds and showers return for tomorrow especially in the afternoon. There's a flood watch posted for much of the state including areas that were incredibly hard hit yesterday. Leominster received over 9 in of rain causing collapse of some of the infrastructure in that area.

The rainfall will potentially be heavy in spots Wednesday night into early Thursday. Skies will eventually clear later Thursday. Temperatures will be in the 70s each day and 60s at night. Friday will be drier and the humidity will finally be lower. Hurricane Lee likely passes to the east of New England on Saturday with perhaps some gusty showers however and some coastal flooding.

— Dave Epstein

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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