Currently in San Francisco — June 7, 2023

The weather, currently.

California is finally introducing the Storm Assistance for Immigrants Project, a $95-million fund from the Department of Social Services to support undocumented immigrants affected by the squall of storms that came through this past winter tht may not be eligible to for federal funds. Funding (a maximum of $4,500 per household in the form of a check or pre-loaded debit card) will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis for the next year or until funds run out.

—Priya Shukla

What you need to know, currently.

Eastern North America is currently experiencing one of the worst air quality outbreaks in decades.

Smoke from a record-setting start to wildfire season in Canada has been streaming across the border all week, darkening skies, and sending people to hospitals.

At one point on Tuesday, the air quality index for New York City was one of the worst in the world, peaking at 157 — that’s 11.9 the WHO air quality guideline value for particulate pollution and considered ‘unsafe’ for all people.

If air quality alerts are affecting the place you live, please take them seriously. Wear masks, limit strenuous outdoor activity, and check on your neighbors. The CDC has a guide for protecting yourself from wildfire smoke.

-Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

Welcome to the new-and-improved Currently!

If you’re a big fan of Currently, please share us with a friend! Our brand-new referral program is a way to give our biggest fans direct ownership of our company. We are the first weather service in the world to do this, and we’ll have much more in the coming days on our hopes and dreams for member-ownership, as well as Currently as a whole.

Thank you for taking this exciting journey with us!

—Eric Holthaus