Currently in Boston — May 24th, 2022

The weather, currently.

Low humidity will be a feature of the weather for the next several days. This lack of moisture in the air means we will see plenty of comfortable sleeping nights ahead and beautiful temperatures during the day. Readings tomorrow will reach into the 60s to near 70°F and into the 70s for Wednesday.

It will warm up a bit on Thursday with some more humidity as a front approaches with a couple of showers possible to end the work week. The pattern we are currently in is conducive to a drought developing during the month of June. If something changes that obviously wouldn't happen but for now that's where we are headed. — Dave Epstein

What you need to know, currently.

The global power grid is in for the test of all tests this summer. In fact, because of climate change’s various effects, including heat waves, droughts and wildfires, many areas in the U.S. are at risk of blackouts this summer.

Hot, sweltering summers mean more people need power to cool their homes. But as rising temperatures increase the demand for electricity, droughts reduce the amount of power available.

According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation annual summer assessment released last week, the Upper Midwest is facing a capacity shortfall — which is when the demand for energy is greater than the supply that’s available — resulting in a higher risk of energy emergencies, like blackouts.

The West Coast could also face a power shortage emergency. Drought conditions in the West also means that there is less water for hydroelectric power and in turn, power plants.

All in all, the climate crisis is threatening the power grid.

—Aarohi Sheth