Currently en Puerto Rico — 4 de agosto, 2023: Otra débil onda tropical se acerca

El tiempo, currently.

Otra onda tropical mantendrá el tiempo activo sobre Puerto Rico el viernes. Debido a lluvias anteriores, es probable que los aguaceros y tronadas de la tarde asociados con esta onda tropical causen inundaciones en áreas urbanas y quebradas, así como inundaciones repentinas y deslizamientos de tierra en áreas con terreno empinado. Para el sábado, se espera menos actividad de lluvia a medida que llega una zona de aire más seco con polvo sahariano. El regreso de los vientos alisios enfocará las lluvias vespertinas del sábado hacia el oeste de Puerto Rico.

—John Toohey-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.

Take a look at the list of our new partners and maybe find a new favorite podcast or website to support!