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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

Utqiagvik reaches record high 40˚F in December
The lack of winter sea ice is keeping temperatures warm. Climatologist Rick Thoman says it's a "very clear climate change signal."
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

No sea ice in Grantley Harbor
December should have sea ice development in Norton Sound. But no sign of ice yet this year. Several storms have moved northward across the western Bering Sea and brought strong winds and bouts of above freezing weather to the Teller area and all of the Bering Strait region.
Teller, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Kendra Lee, Anahma Shannon, Austin Ahmasuk, Kitrea P Takata-Glushkoff, Hajo Eicken

Late Alaska Winter
October flew by leaving us with a couple of light snowfalls. November came around with something slightly more impressive, but it wasn't the same. Mid December decided to make up for all of the snowfalls that we missed all at once, it seems like.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Mike Brook, Mackenzie Lord

People followed instructions during the storm
Weather warnings for northern gales and heavy rainfall that swept through the country yesterday expired last night. The weather was accompanied by heavy precipitation, snow or sleet, and widespread winter conditions on the roads.
Vík í Mýrdal, South, Iceland
RÚV

Castner Glacier Half-Collapsed
Hikers should be cautious when hiking the Castner Glacier trail since chunks of ice may fall and the streams and rivers are very fast.
Castner Glacier Ice Cave

Atmospheric river dumping rain on overflowing rivers raises flood alarm
It's coming up to peak flood season in BC with extra thick snowpack melting into rivers. On top of that, an atmospheric river is coming.
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
Daily Hive News

With less sea ice, expect seal pups near shore
On Sunday night, a plump ringed seal pup was spotted on the ice in front of Breaker’s Bar on Nome’s Front Street. UAF Alaska Sea Grant agent Gay Sheffield was called and moved the pup to a more secluded beach. The ice had likely gone out too fast and the mother finished up the normal weaning process on the ice chunks in front of Nome.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

As snow melts, Interior Alaska biologists tally number of winter-killed wildlife
Biologists say the bison population took a big hit this winter. More than a dozen were hit and killed by vehicles because the animals were using roads in lieu of their usual trails, which were covered by deep snow and ice.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Still very cold on Noatak
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Crane Johnson, Richard L Thoman Jr, Jeffrey Luther

'A beautiful, sunny day': Last of the ice washes down the N.W.T.'s Hay River
Town officials said water levels rose to new highs on Thursday and a second surge of water in the afternoon flooded through the north end of Miron Drive, the downtown area, and Cranberry Crescent, causing property damage throughout the town. By Friday morning, the last of the ice was off the river.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

One lane of traffic open near Cooper Landing after Sterling Highway landslide
The creek slide is the latest environmental incident to strike the Kenai Peninsula this week: a massive landslide in Seward on May 7 continues to block Lowell Point Road, a wildfire broke out near Sportsman’s Landing on May 8 and a separate wildfire broke out on May 10 near Wildman’s.
Cooper Landing, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Tension high as water rises in Fort Liard, holds steady in Fort Simpson
Water levels are quickly rising in Fort Liard, N.W.T., as of Tuesday afternoon. Some people are currently stranded at the general store and that others are being taken to safety. Meanwhile, Fort Simpson is seeing fluctuating water levels as the ice ebbs and flows, but still below the threshold for concern.
Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

'It was splashing over the windshield': Woman describes flight from N.W.T. flooding
The couple had been watching water levels rise and fall all day, waiting for them to go down like usual. They'd finally started to relax, when the knock came. They were out of time.
Paradise Gardens, NWT
CBC

Hundreds flee homes in northern Alberta due to flooding
Residents in the northern Alberta community of Chateh, west of High Level, could be out of their homes for several months after flooding forced them to evacuate Sunday and Monday. 'This is the worst flooding we ever had,' Dene Tha' First Nations chief says.
Chateh, Alberta

Flooding in Manley Hot Springs recedes, but residents remain displaced and without power
The second-worst flood on record in the Interior Alaska community of Manley Hot Springs began to recede on Sunday, but dozens of residents were displaced and cut off from power. Flooding is also reported in Sleetmute, Red Devil and Georgetown on the Kuskokwim River and Circle on the Yukon River.
Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Hay River expects highway to Vale Island to be underwater soon, remaining residents advised to leave
Lower Village and Wolf Drive Area are being told to head for higher ground as flood waters approach. Hay River's SAO says water is the highest he's ever seen.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada

The mayor of Pilot Station dies after falling through Yukon River ice on a snowmachine
The ride downriver had been good. But by evening on the way back, it started to get bumpy.“There was lots of dark spots, lots of water,” said Nikiefer. Then suddenly, the ice turned needley. The snowmachine stopped, and then started to sink. They jumped off and started to swim.
Pilot Station, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Several communities in Canada’s Northwest Territories at risk of spring flooding
Water levels in the Hay River Basin are at or near the highest ever recorded at this time of year — as much as 40 per cent higher than normal levels in Alberta and B.C. This is combined with an already saturated ground which increases the risk of smaller bodies of water overflowing.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada
leonetwork.org

The largest April wildfire in Alaska in a quarter century is burning near Kwethluk
Less snow than usual fell in the area this winter. It melted early, exposing the tundra. A steady wind has dried the vegetation, and hardly any precipitation has fallen since early March. Thoman said that with no rain and abundant sunshine, the tundra has remained brown and dry. The fire still is not threatening the community of Kwethluk or any Native allotments.
Kwethluk, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

High snowpack, water levels put several N.W.T. communities once again at risk of spring flooding
Excessive snowpack and high water levels have communities across the N.W.T. at risk of flooding once again this spring. This includes Hay River, Kátł'odeeche First Nation, Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Jean Marie River First Nation.

‘Local legend’ Valdez heli-ski guide dies in avalanche in Chugach Mountains
Michael Hamilton, who worked at Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, died Monday in one of numerous avalanches that have been occurring in the Southcentral Alaska backcountry recently. Several recent large wet slab avalanches reported throughout the Chugach are believed to be connected to a buried crust that formed around late October, she said. A warm storm system last week also weakened the snowpack because it added weight and heat.
Valdez, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Chistochina River darker then usual
"Now I have seen the current muddy at break up but usually after prolonged warming and winds. This one is about a month ahead of the game."
Chistochina, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Katie Spellman, Wilson Justin, Crane Johnson

It'll likely take 2 weeks to clear snow from Eagle River road after massive avalanche, officials say
No residents had been reported injured or missing, and power had been restored to most impacted homes. City officials had also carved a path so residents can travel in the area by snowmachine.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Giant ice craters, ruts and street-squeezing snow berms: Anchorage road conditions are improving but still causing chaos
Auto shops are seeing more business because of damaged tires, and drivers are often inching through a messy maze of bad road conditions. Road crews are making headway but still catching up from unfavorable weather last month.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Towering sea ice and a lost Ford truck: Team treks from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay
It went through thin ice near the Tasmania Islands, in Franklin Strait, while the group was retracing its route back to Cambridge Bay,
Nunatsiaq News

Early ocean ice break-up
"We used to have snowmobile races on the ocean ice in front of Elim during the first weekend in April but we cannot have any races this year."
Elim, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Leigh Takak, Matthew Druckenmiller, Anahma Shannon, Richard L Thoman Jr, Mike Brook

Heavy snowpack in several Alaska river basins raises concerns of possible spring flooding
The Yukon, Tanana, Koyukuk, Kuskokwim and Susitna basins all have more snowpack than usual — and some are well above normal.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Earliest break up ever in Newhalen, spring is way early
I have been speaking with elders in the community and they have never before seen the river break up that soon.
Newhalen, Alaska, United States
Sonny Lamont, Richard L Thoman Jr, Crane Johnson

‘We’ve never seen this before’: River overflow on winter road to Old Crow delays supplies
First trucks made week-long pitstop on river bank due to overflow on newly completed winter road. On the first attempt to cross the overflow, a truck’s front tires went through approximately eight inches and the vehicle had to be towed out, in the report. No one was hurt, and there was no damage done.
Old Crow, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Wild and windy winter "worst in 20 years"
A steel-framed building was broken apart by wind in Hafnarfjörður on Friday, search & rescue teams attended over a hundred call-outs, and Hellisheiði and other important roads were closed once more. February was one of the coldest and windiest for many years.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
RÚV

Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent at a near-record early date
The melt season for Arctic sea ice is underway after the annual maximum extent was reached late last month. Sea ice extent reached its annual maximum on Feb. 25, 15 days earlier than the 1981-2010 average date and one of the earliest dates for that milestone in the four-decade satellite record.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
ArcticToday

Bering Sea ice reaches St. Paul for a week, now recedes north
The main Bering Sea ice pack has begun its retreat to the north after extending to the Pribilofs earlier this month. This winter’s freeze-up has been reminiscent of more historical sea ice conditions.
Pribilof Islands
KNOM Radio Mission

Extreme Weather Across Iceland Causes Power Outages and Damage
A winter storm caused power outages and property damage across Iceland. Winds reached speeds of 40 meters per second (89 mph) in the Southwest region, though precipitation was less than forecasted. See related article: A total of ten waves of 25 meters high and four waves over 30 meters high were recorded. A 40 m wave was the highest recorded since 1990.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Team of biologists makes daring rescue of loons trapped in iced-in waters
The openings were left after ice-in started during a cold snap, but didn’t quite finish in the deepest parts of the lake, about a quarter of a mile off shore. The two loons were stuck and unable to take off, because common loons require a water “runway” to push off and get airborne. Farther up the lake, three other loons were stuck in similar fashion.
Lovell, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Freeze up on Lower Kenai River
Cold on the Peninsula! Cabin owner on Kenai River near Soldotna says they have not seen it frozen like this in years.
Funny River, Alaska, United States

Yakutat declares disaster as hazardous winter weather hits Southeast Alaska
With millions of dollars in damage to a new health clinic and imperiled infrastructure, the borough is requesting help from the National Guard. Yakutat has seen up to 6 feet of snow in recent weeks and a rare cold snap that pushed temperatures below zero.
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

Dunleavy issues disaster declaration for Interior Alaska and Mat-Su storms
Extreme winds and cold temperatures have affected the areas. At one point over the weekend, 20,000 households in Mat-Su lost power.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Challenging pastures for reindeer: Difficult conditions in Nordland and Troms, grazing crisis in Indre Finnmark
Changing weather with a lot of snow, rain and strong frost with icing, has made it difficult for the reindeer to reach lichen and moss on the ground in Nordland.
Indre Finnmark, Troms og Finnmark Fylke, Norway
NRK

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