Currently in the Twin Cities — September 13, 2023: First frost for Northeast Minnesota

The weather, currently.

The Duluth area saw a freak, extreme rainfall Monday night thanks to thunderstorms and the lake’s combined efforts. Up to 3 to 6 inches of rain fell, the result of the chilly air mass that’s settled in combined with Lake Superior water temperatures that are running warmer than normal.

We have a chilly night/early Wednesday on the way with lows falling into the 40s in the Twin Cities (for the first time in nearly four months) and the first frost advisory of the season for northeast Minnesota. We’ll have sunny skies Wednesday with temperatures rapidly warming back into the low 80s by Thursday afternoon.

— Sven Sundgaard

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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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: