A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Hokkaido prompted Japan to issue a tsunami warning, highlighting both strong ground shaking and immediate coastal hazards for Sapporo and nearby communities. Details in the post are limited, but the alert suggests authorities anticipated potentially dangerous waves following the mainshock.
About 20,000 households were without power late Saturday afternoon, from Glacier View to Knik Goose Bay Road. Some railroad crossings were disabled due to wind damage.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck at 11:41 a.m. AKST on Dec. 6 about 58 miles north of Yakutat, Alaska, followed by a vigorous aftershock sequence with several above magnitude 5. No tsunami warning was issued and no injuries or damage had been reported as of early afternoon.
Elevated lead levels were found in drinking water fixtures at Mildred Hall School in Yellowknife, the fourth Yellowknife school to test positive this year. The N.W.T. government will fund alternate drinking water for any territorial school while testing and remediation continue.
An arctic cold front drove overnight lows to record levels in Maine, with Portland hitting 2°F and Augusta 3°F and wind chills below zero. Communities opened warming centers as forecasters warned wind chills could drop to minus 30°F in parts of the state.
A Grand Arctic Resort guide fell through river ice with a snowmobile on the Kalix River near a bridge in Överkalix while grooming winter trails. He got wet but climbed out uninjured; the snowmobile and sled sank and were to be salvaged the next day.
Reykjavík’s Health Inspection warns of high particulate matter near major roads in Reykjavík and Kópavogur during calm, dry weather, advising children, older adults, and people with respiratory illness to avoid busy roads and for the public to use alternatives to private cars.
SMHI warned of icy conditions in northern Sweden, and Skellefteå’s ER saw a surge of patients injured in falls. Staff report “casting non‑stop,” with most injuries linked to extremely slippery streets and sidewalks.
Authorities in Rovaniemi warn that river ice is extremely weak and going onto the ice is life‑threatening. Locals and businesses are urged not to set a bad example for tourists unfamiliar with ice safety.
A Bozeman hunter’s bird dog in eastern Montana was found with an Ixodes scapularis tick, raising concerns that Lyme disease–carrying ticks might be establishing themselves in the region.
In Uelen, Chukotka, a volunteer 'Bear Patrol' has been driving away a white bear for over a week after its initial appearance on February 26, attracted by the scent of stored walrus meat. The bear’s recurring intrusion has raised concerns as Uelen lies along the polar bear migration route, and similar incidents have reportedly tripled compared to previous years.
A watch was issued for the Atka Volcanic Complex following a small explosive event that may have released a limited amount of volcanic ash. The Alaska Volcano Observatory is closely monitoring activity using seismic data, infrasound sensors, and web cameras.
Eagles in Unalaska are nesting earlier than usual, prompting local authorities to caution residents about potentially aggressive territorial behavior near the nests.
The U.S. Forest Service has warned Juneau residents to avoid the Mendenhall Glacier due to a large crack that could lead to significant calving, posing risks to those recreating on the frozen lake.
On February 6, 2025, an extreme wind event in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, led to a surprising occurrence near the Óseyrarbraut roadway.
Tom McGuire, a 79-year-old Haines author and backcountry adventurer, fell through the ice while skating alone on Chilkoot Lake, triggering an extensive search by local volunteers and state officials.
A professional snowboarder criticized the prolonged five‐hour rescue effort after an avalanche swept a backcountry skier down a mountain, cautioning that every minute matters in life‐or‐death situations.
After Friday’s storm, the Capital Region’s Fire Department responded to an unusually high number of flood-related calls, with firefighters tackling severe flooding in homes and public areas. The incident saw approximately 25 calls for pump trucks and over 140 ambulances dispatched during the event.
A rare magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the upper Kuskokwim region on January 29, 2025, startling residents in communities like McGrath and Kalskag, though no significant damage was reported.
A driver lost direction in foggy conditions and accidentally drove onto thin sea ice near Vaasa, Finland, but escaped unharmed. Sea ice conditions have been particularly difficult this winter, due to alternating periods of severe cold and milder temperatures which have made the ice weak and unpredictable.
All Topics
All Countries
Any Date
Apply