Kárášjohka

A prolonged cold spell in Finnmark, Norway brought temperatures below -30°C in Karasjok and Kautokeino, causing vehicle breakdowns and frost injuries to horses at local farms.

Karasjok in Finnmark, Norway recorded -41.4°C on the morning of Jan. 9, 2026—the lowest temperature there since 2017—leading the municipality to cancel school bus service while other services continued largely as normal.

A mild autumn and winter in Finnmark have delayed ice formation on rivers and lakes, making safety hard to assess, says ice forecaster Kjetil Melvold at Varsom. Two snowmobiles fell through the ice in Karasjok yesterday, and 100 reindeer went through the ice last Sunday.

A dead moose calf in Karasjok was found with moose botfly larvae in its throat, marking a potentially first reported occurrence of this parasite in inner Finnmark, Norway, raising concerns about its impact on local wildlife.

In Finnmark and parts of Troms, good and favorite berry bogs have cracked and disappeared. The reason is warmer and more humid climate. "Almost impossible to reverse," says a bog researcher.

Extreme amounts of snow in Finnmark presents major challenges for grazing animals. Per John Anti met a herd of 36 moose that had gathered.

"It is unusual for bears with youngsters to wake up so early and it is difficult to say why these have come out. The bears may have been disturbed by humans or other animals."

In Karasjok this spring, bears, lynx and a golden eagle attacked an enclosed reindeer herd, killing around 100 animals, while five state agencies coordinated the response and initially denied a permit for lethal control.

Ida Wessman, 28, bought her family's herd of reindeer after her father passed away five years ago. "It's been going pretty well. With this industry you've got high points and low points," Wessman said, alluding to severe 2019-2020 weather that killed 15,000 of the animals.

Reindeer herders in Karasjok, Finnmark report a severe winter grazing crisis as thaw conditions followed by extreme cold have iced over pastures, scattering herds and making feeding difficult. Authorities say climate change is increasing the frequency of winters with “locked” (iced) grazing areas, and inspections are ongoing.