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When Memphis went dark, community members brought the light: ‘We keep ourselves safe’

A storm lasting about 30 minutes wreaked $18m in damage and left tens of thousands without power in the US city

The storm that hit the Memphis, Tennessee, area on 22 August lingered for only about half an hour. But the destruction it left was lasting: $18m in damages, fallen trees and more than 100,000 people without power.

Amber Sherman was one of the east Memphis residents who lost power, but her first thoughts were of her neighbors. “My main thought was that the power’s going to be out for a while and people aren’t prepared for that and it’s very hot outside,” Sherman, a coordinator for Black Voters Matter (BVM) in Memphis, said. Days after the storm, a series of rain showers and thunderstorms known as a bow echo storm, the high in Memphis was 91F (32.8C). Tens of thousands of households were still without power.

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© Photograph: Courtesy Amber Sherman

© Photograph: Courtesy Amber Sherman

© Photograph: Courtesy Amber Sherman

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Temperature check: alarm as prediction markets lean into weather and climate bets

Climate experts warn that US Kalshi and Polymarket users are ‘gamifying disasters’ as they bet on events like heatwaves and daily temperatures

Online prediction markets, saturated by money staked on sport, crypto and politics, have now set their sights on a promising new area of growth: betting on the future livability of the planet itself.

The rise of gamified predictions on the unfolding climate crisis, and shorter-term weather forecasts, has been underscored by a new deal that allows Kalshi, a leading online financial exchange, to access data from the Weather Company, owner of the Weather Channel, to verify weather-related betting outcomes.

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© Photograph: Richard Levine/Alamy

© Photograph: Richard Levine/Alamy

© Photograph: Richard Levine/Alamy

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Blackout risk rises as heatwave stresses largest US electric grids

Par : Reuters

US energy department warns of potential for outages in PJM Interconnection, serving 67 million from DC to Chicago

The risk ⁠of power outages ⁠is expected to ​escalate across a broad swath of the United States on Wednesday as intense heat will test the capacity of electricity supplies ⁠serving millions of homes and businesses from the midwest through the mid-Atlantic.

The US Department of Energy warned of the potential for heightened blackout risks in ⁠the PJM Interconnection, the largest US electric grid, which serves 67 million people in ​a territory stretching from Washington DC to ‌Chicago.

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© Photograph: Nam Y Huh/AP

© Photograph: Nam Y Huh/AP

© Photograph: Nam Y Huh/AP

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Tropical Storm Edouard strengthens as it bears down on Texas and Louisiana

First big storm of season could reach hurricane force and is expected to bring potentially heavy rains and flooding

Tropical Storm Edouard headed toward the US Gulf coast early on Tuesday and was expected to strengthen significantly – possibly reaching hurricane force – before bringing potentially heavy rains and flooding into parts of Texas and Louisiana.

The storm was upgraded on Monday night from a tropical depression, and forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) expect it will make landfall in Texas later on Tuesday.

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© Photograph: NOAA/AP

© Photograph: NOAA/AP

© Photograph: NOAA/AP

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How intense rains in the Grand Canyon turned into a deadly disaster

Flash flooding in Arizona tourist destination was likely triggered by compounding climate factors, such as drought and warming in Pacific Ocean

A deadly flash flood in the Grand Canyon over the weekend was likely driven by a confluence of climate factors, including drought, wildfire scarring and warming temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that can supercharge storms.

At least two people have died, nearly 80 people were rescued and one remained unaccounted for after a surge of water and debris swept through the immensely popular tourist destination on Saturday, fueled by torrents of rain that hit the national park’s Bright Angel Creek area.

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© Photograph: Jonathan Bailey via NPS

© Photograph: Jonathan Bailey via NPS

© Photograph: Jonathan Bailey via NPS

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Two people dead and nearly 80 rescued after Grand Canyon flash flood

Officials say one person still unaccounted for as forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms threaten further flooding

A second death was confirmed by National Park Service officials on Monday after a flash flood sent a surge of water and debris through an area of the Grand Canyon over the weekend.

Dozens of visitors had to be evacuated by helicopter during the deluge, which consumed trails and infrastructure. Nearly 80 people were rescued and one person is still unaccounted for, as more heavy rain and thunderstorms in the forecasts threaten additional debris flows, flash floods or rock falls, the NPS said in a statement.

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© Photograph: J Thompson,handout/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: J Thompson,handout/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: J Thompson,handout/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/AFP/Getty Images

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One dead and 15 people may be missing after flash flood in Arizona’s Grand Canyon

Dozens evacuated after flash-flood event near Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch, officials say

One person died and about 15 people were missing or unaccounted for after a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon national park in Arizona on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Park Service.

The flash-flood event occurred in the area of Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch, where park staff and the Arizona department of public safety had evacuated more than 60 people as of Sunday morning.

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© Photograph: Parth Desai/AP

© Photograph: Parth Desai/AP

© Photograph: Parth Desai/AP

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Record-breaking heat dome expected to bring dangerous temperatures to US south-west

As wildfires rage and intense heat builds across the region, daytime highs of 110-11F (43-46C) are forecast

Surging temperatures are expected to broil more than 45 million people as a heat dome settles in across the south-western US through the end of August and into early September, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

As wildfires rage in some parts and intense heat builds across the region, daytime highs of 110-115F (43-46C) are forecast, with limited cooling relief in the evenings and overnight. Experts predict that some record highs could be tied or broken this month and the weather agency warned of the scorching late summer heat as a potential health hazard.

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© Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

© Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

© Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP

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Indiana mayor calls it ‘unacceptable’ for thousands to have no power two weeks after storm

Gary mayor says 12 days is ‘too long’ for residents to go without power after storm downed trees on to power lines

The mayor of Gary, Indiana, has said it is “unacceptable” that thousands of residents in the city are still without power nearly two weeks after an 11 August storm known as a derecho brought 90 mph, straight-line winds, downing trees on to power lines.

“We’re at day 12, and 12 days is too long for families to be without power,” Eddie Melton, Gary’s mayor, said in a video address on Sunday, adding that he is continuing to pressure the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Nipsco) to restore the city’s power before the end of Tuesday.

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© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

© Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters

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Devastation, doubt and blame: Hurricane Helene looms over North Carolina’s US Senate race

The Democratic and the Republican candidate each blame the other for the bungled recovery effort after storm struck region

Two years after North Carolina suffered the worst natural disaster in its history when Hurricane Helene struck the state’s western half, life in the hardest-hit areas appears back to normal. Downtowns are lively, blocked roads have been reopened and rivers are flowing below their banks.

But the telltale evidence of the disaster’s expensive impacts can still be seen – from “for rent” signs in storefronts whose businesses never came back to debris from the storm still lurking in some waterways. And in the race for North Carolina’s US Senate seat, it’s almost as if the hurricane never left.

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© Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

© Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

© Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Stores are selling Halloween stuff in August. Time has lost all meaning | Dave Schilling

Capitalism and the climate crisis are conspiring to destroy the concept of seasons. I’ll take solace in my pumpkin spice

Happy spooky season, everyone! Get those jack-o’-lanterns out, because Halloween is just around the corner!

Just kidding, no, it’s not.

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© Illustration: Fortunate Joaquin/The Guardian

© Illustration: Fortunate Joaquin/The Guardian

© Illustration: Fortunate Joaquin/The Guardian

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