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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Super-cold thunderstorm sets record with -111°C cloud temperature
According to a new study, -111°C is more than 30°C colder than typical storm clouds and is the coldest measurement of storm cloud temperature on record.
near Nauru
The Weather Network

Vegetation in Barents Region disturbed by mid-autumn thaw
After frost comes spring, but when it happens in mid-November plants get confused. That is not good news.
Kirkenes, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

'New normal' ferocious winds whip up deadly California fires
Two deadly wildfires fueled by "devil winds" tore through opposite ends of California on Sunday, with residents urged to heed evacuation orders by officials forced to leave their own homes. In northern California, the Camp Fire is one of the deadliest and most destructive in the state'
Paradise, California, United States
Reuters

'Son of the blob': Unseasonably warm weather creating new anomaly off B.C. coast
A meteorologist says unseasonably warm weather in B.C. is once again causing a large area of the Pacific Ocean to heat up considerably, emulating a phenomenon from past years known as the “blob.”
Gulf of Alaska
CBC

Late-blooming Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
Fireweed blooming in mid-late September after other plants have gone to seed.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Toronto beats temperature record as students swelter in schools without AC
Students and teachers at hundreds of Toronto schools without air conditioning sweltered their way through record-breaking heat on Wednesday, as the city’s largest school board said it understood why some parents might choose to keep their children at home.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CTVNews

Irish summer heatwave sees Shannon record hottest day in over 70 years
Ireland's highest temperature was reported at Shannon Airport, Co Clare on June 28 reaching a high of 32.0 °C, its highest since 1946. The summer of 2018 will be remembered for the scorching heatwave and drought conditions that affected the whole country.
Shannon, Clare County, Ireland
The Irish Sun

Erie records record-high temperature of 93 Wednesday
The 93-degree temperature was recorded at 2:13 p.m.
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
GoErie.com

Red sunset in store as North American wildfire smoke spreads across Finland
Seija Paasonen has been tracking the patterns of the North American forest fires for several weeks now. She says that the smoke has traveled as far as Europe owing to wind patterns in the upper atmosphere.
Kainuu, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Thick smoke in the Alberni Valley, lasting days
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

B.C. declares state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires burn across province
The British Columbia government has declared a state of emergency to support the provincewide response to the ongoing wildfire situation.
British Columbia, Canada
CBC

Portugal breaks temperature records as Europe swelters under heatwave
Eight places in Portugal broke local temperature records Friday as a wave of heat from North Africa swept across the Iberian peninsula — and officials predicted the scorching temperatures could get even worse over the weekend.
Abrantes, Santarém, Portugal
CBC News

Florida Algae Blooms Send People to Hospital, Kill Marine Wildlife
Nearly 4,000 dead fish were counted on Sanibel area beaches and parks.
Saint Lucie River, Florida, United States
The Weather Channel

Wildfire 'tornado' destroyed 500 structures, killed 2
A local firefighter who was killed fighting a fast-moving wildfire was identified Friday as crews continued to battle the blaze in Redding, California.
Redding, California, United States
USA TODAY

Vegetable prices spiking because of heatwave
Vegetable prices are rising rapidly in Japan after a deadly heatwave saw highs of more than 40C. Record-breaking temperatures triggered a spike in the cost of some foods with increases of up to 65 per cent.  An agriculture ministry official in Tokyo warned about "pretty severe price moves" for vegetables if predictions of more weeks of hot weather held up, resulting in less rain than usual.
Japan, 東京都東京都
The Independent

Algae blooms disrupt Cape Coral canals with foul odor, green spray-paint look
Algae blooms have infiltrated much of the Cape Coral canal system, creating a foul odor and a green, spray-paint tint to some of the water.
Cape Coral, Florida, United States
The News-Press

Wildfire smoke from as far as Ontario and Siberia affecting air quality
Seniors, children and people with chronic health issues are advised to stay indoors and use air conditioning where possible.
British Columbia, Canada
CKNW

Wildfires Kill Dozens Near Athens
They've forced evacuations of popular beach towns just outside the city.
Rafina, Αττικη, Greece
Condé Nast Traveler

Wildfires rage in Lapland, more threaten Finland from the east
Grass and forest fires are proving difficult to contain in Finnish Lapland, and now several fires on the Russian side of the border are moving into Finland.
Kittilä, Lappi, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Sun blanked out in Arctic Siberia
Locals in north of Yakutia said daylight was completely gone for several hours. After the sun returned, locals found thick layer of dust covering everything outside.
North Yakutia, Russia
Siberian Times

Asthma deaths rise 25% amid growing air pollution crisis
Doctors urge ministers to act as 1,320 killed by asthma in England and Wales last year
England and Wales, United Kingdom
the Guardian

More than 90 deaths now linked to heat wave in Quebec
New report suggests 53 deaths in Montreal alone are linked to elevated temperatures in early July.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
thestar.com

Hundreds of Arctic glaciers shrinking, disappearing into 'city of icebergs'
The statistics in her recently published paper say it all: hundreds of glaciers in Canada's High Arctic are shrinking and many are likely to disappear completely.
Slidre Fjord, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
CBC

1 dead, dozens injured from hail storm
The southwest region of France was hit on Wednesday by violent hailstorms, damaging roofs, cars and killing one person.
Bordeaux, France
ABC News

Ecosystems across Australia are collapsing under climate change
Australia has seen an unprecedented number of widespread, catastrophic transformations in response to extreme weather events.
Australia
The Conversation

Reykjavík Has Least Sunny June in Thirty Years
A mere 71 hours of sunshine were recorded in the capital last month.
Reykjavík, Iceland
Iceland Review

Climate change not one heat wave: scientist
A Canadian climate scientist says Canada and the world are seeing a pattern of more extreme weather events
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Heat wave turns deadly and is expected to last through the Fourth of July
Nearly 80 million people in the United States remained under a heat advisory or warning Tuesday, with scorching temperatures and humidity expected through the Fourth of July.
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
CNN

Hottest Night in Recorded History Just Logged in Oman
Quriyat, Oman just blasted past a 24-hour minimum-temperature record, beating the previous "highest low," which was also set in Oman.
Quryat, Oman
Live Science

Temperature records broken across B.C., again
The first heat wave of the season went out with a bang across the province
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Fire Near Unalakleet
Wildfire smoke visible in Unalakleet.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Contiguous U.S. had its warmest May on record
Each state was warmer than average, record precipitation in the East
United States of America
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

2000-acre tundra fire burns near Point Hope
A tundra fire that has grown to 2,000 acres as of Monday afternoon is burning near Point Hope, officials say.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
KTVA

Dozens of wildland fires reported across Alaska’s Arctic
As of Tuesday, two new fires had started in the Galena Zone, bringing the total number of fires in the area to 35. To date this year, wildland fires have burned more than 44,000 acres in the region.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

9 temperature records broken across B.C.
Clearwater, Golden, Williams Lake, Malahat a few of the cities that broke records Wednesday
Yoho Park, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

40 injured as winds reach hurricane force in western Siberia
Spectacular sandstorm hits Tyumen as high winds uproot trees, blow over bus shelters, and damage cars.
Тюмень, Тюменская область, Russia

Finland experiencing worst birch pollen season in years
As many allergy-sufferers across Finland may have already suspected, birch pollen levels were very high on Wednesday, according to the University of Turku.
Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Armageddon as wildfires ignite forest around Komsomolsk-on-Amur
City a ‘smoky hell’ as hill on opposite side of Amur River is in flames while driver films inferno on train track.
Комсомольск-на-Амуре, Хабаровский край, Russia
Siberian Times

Eastern Washington flooding reaches emergency levels
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency Saturday for counties in the eastern part of the state
Omak, Washington, United States
CBS/AP

Increased Turbulent Experience and High Winds While Flying during Winter Season
Passenger experiences usually turbulent conditions on winter flights.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

16 temperature records broken around B.C.
Agassiz broke a record that goes back more than 100 years
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada

B.C. wildfires triggered mega thunderstorm with volcano-like effects
In the midst of B.C.'s record-breaking wildfire season, the heat from four fires triggered huge thunderstorms that sent smoke flying into the stratosphere, eventually spreading through the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Climate change could leave Californians with 'weather whiplash'
Climate change will make for more frequent wild swings in California weather, with both more extremely dry and extremely wet years and 'weather whiplash' in between.
California, United States
CNN

Curious by Nature: What’s bubbling in front of Jon Reiswig’s home?
For a few decades now, retired surgeon Jon Reiswig has lived with a perplexing oddity: the water in front of his North Douglas home constantly bubbles.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Sargassum on the south coast
Newport, Curacao
Curaçao Chronicle

Street dust impacting air quality across Finland
Not only is pollen is beginning to spread, but road gravel dust and studded tyres grinding the tarmac can also cause particulates that cause breathing difficulties. There are a few ways to deal with the dust, however.
Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland

2018 Weather, climate disasters already costing record amounts
So far in 2018, there have been three climate and weather disasters that have cost $1 billion or more.
United States
Newsweek

Study reveals startling new evidence of effects of climate change in the Arctic
New research led by U of T Mississauga geographer Igor Lehnherr provides startling evidence that remote areas in Canada's Arctic region—once thought to be beyond the reach of human impact—are responding rapidly to warming global temperatures.
Lake Hazen
Phys.org

Burning Coal for Survival in the World’s Coldest Capital
Many residents of Ulan Bator, Mongolia, use coal-burning stoves during the winter months when staying warm is a matter of survival. But the pollution is hazardous to their health.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
New York Times

More than 230,000 remain without power in Mass.; could take days to restore - The Boston Globe
The storm dropped more than a foot of snow overnight in some places, making for a messy Thursday morning commute. And the nor’easter isn’t gone yet.
Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
BostonGlobe.com
Felicia Gans, John R. Ellement, Andy Rosen and Travis Andersen

Aleutian volcano erupts, sending ash cloud miles into the sky
Monitors picked up a small explosion and ash cloud from Mount Cleveland volcano on Friday morning.
Chuginadak Islands, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Another cold week in Finland
The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a warning of very cold temperatures from Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning, February 26 to 28.
Jämsä, Central Finland, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

Sudden stratospheric warming linked to open water in polar ice pack
In the depths of the long night that cloaks the Arctic in frigid darkness for three months each winter, a surprising patch of open water appeared, just to the north of Greenland.
Wandel Sea
Phys.org

Ocean Ice Is All Gone
Rough seas and moving sea ice.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
Sharon Nayokpuk, Hajo Eicken, Richard L Thoman Jr

Climate change spells turbulent times ahead for air travel
From rising temperatures preventing take-off to rising seas flooding runways, aviation needs to adapt to changes already grounding flights around the world
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
the Guardian

If you live in Florida, climate change is already affecting your health
Climate change is already impacting Floridians health, doctors say, and it's going to get worse in the future. That's why Florida doctors and nurses formed Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, an educational and activist group dedicated to teaching people and politicians about the dangers of climate change on human health.
Florida, United States
Miami Herald

Skin freezing temperatures in Rankin Inlet close schools
The extreme cold is about 15 degrees colder than what is normal for this time of the year in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. 'I don't remember the last time we actually closed due to weather. This is a bit of an extreme'
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
CBC News

Coldest January In Decades
The average temperature in Iceland this January was colder than it has been in the last decade.
Iceland
Iceland Review

How the Antarctic Sun Creates Breathtaking Optical Effects
A fine haze of ice particles transformed this landscape into an otherworldly scene
South Pole
Smithsonian - SMARTNEWS

Ice roads and tundra travel: Rural Arctic access complicated by warmer winters
While industry has had to adapt to changes, many locals are still struggling to find a new normal amidst the shifting seasons.
Anchorage Daily News

State report details potential health impacts of climate change
How will climate change affect health in Alaska? Dangerous travel conditions could cause more accidents, warmer temperatures could spread new diseases and the topsy-turvy weather could worsen mental health. Those are some conclusions from a new state report released Monday. Listen now
Newtok, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Rachel Waldholz, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Roads, cars submerged: Storm rages with snow, floods - The Boston Globe
The powerful winter weather storm was slamming into Massachusetts by mid-morning Thursday, bringing blizzard-like conditions in some areas, torrential rain in others, power outages and hurricane-strength winds on Cape Cod and the Islands.
Quincy, Massachusetts, United States
The Boston Globe

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