The Cheat Sheet

“Isaac doesn’t appear to be a Republican, and not only because it presents on the weather map as a throbbing purple penis surrounded by a rainbow.” 

It may be raining in New York City, but the Midwest is suffering from a devastating drought. More photos. 

(Photo: Daniel Acker, Bloomberg / Getty Images) 

Three times normal rainfall in the Ohio Valley combined with melting snowpack caused historical flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries in this record-setting year of billion-dollar weather-related disasters. FEMA and insurance companies are going to be hard-pressed to cover these disasters, as extreme weather continues to get more extreme. 

Hurricane Irene is barreling its way towards us in New York right now. Our second natural disaster of the week!

It’s…The Nothing. Who knew the Childlike Empress lives in Phoenix? But seriously. Dust storms! Wow. We collected a handful of video and photographs off the wires—you can see those here. Have you ever been in or near one of these in real life? [via Reddit]

boston:

Severe weather hits across Massachusetts

- Tornadoes tore through Western and Central Massachusetts Wednesday, killing at least four people, injuring an untold number, and reducing schools, churches, and homes to splinters along its destructive path. (53 photos.)

We’re collecting raw video and photos of the damage again with Storify.

Are you ready for more?

A storm cloud is covering nearly the entire U.S. this morning. Meanwhile Down Under, Aussies brace for a cyclone. Oddly enough, Punxsutawney Phil poked his head out and didn’t see his shadow this morning, meaning we’re getting an early spring? Hard to believe right now.

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