Currently in NYC — June 30, 2023: Mostly sunny and warm

The weather, currently.

Another dry day awaits us and it’s going to feel even better because it’s on a Friday! Highs will again be in the mid 80s with humidity levels much like they were on Thursday- aka not great but definitely not horrible. Our skies will be mostly sunny but you’ll notice some haze still from the smoke. Air quality won’t be at its best but sadly, we’re learning how to deal with this. Limit outdoor activities if the AQI gets to unhealthy levels, especially if you’re in a sensitive group. Showers and thunderstorms may create some fireworks for our weekend so keep an eye on the radar when you’re outdoors. Enjoy your weekend!

Bike Forecast:

5 out of 10

— Stacy Blundell

What you can do, currently.

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Our annual summer membership drive is underway — 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 739 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!!

What you need to know, currently.

For the first time in nearly four years, the state of Colorado is drought-free.

Last May, drought covered more than 93% of the state. That number is now down to 0%, according to the latest Drought Monitor. This is great news for a state that has defined the western drought for decades, complete with wintertime wildfires, decimated snowpack, and a plunging Colorado River.

The turnaround is not without its downsides, of course. Waves of severe weather, hailstorms, and flooding have struck the Denver metro area in recent weeks with more than 200% of normal rainfall so far this year.

The next three years are critical for the future trajectory of Colorado, and of the entire Colorado River basin, as federal officials have begun a process to renegotiate with states on new rules governing water use over 250,000 square miles (650,000 sq km).

In the future, large scale rewilding efforts to reintroduce wolves, beavers, and other keystone species of healthy wetlands in the Rocky Mountains show promise if coupled with efforts to phase out water-intensive industrial-scale agriculture and ranching in these sensitive areas.

—Eric Holthaus