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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

Anchorage's low-snow December makes for idle plows and happy skaters
Anchorage experienced an unusually low-snow December in 2024, with only 1.9 inches recorded, contrasting sharply with the heavy snowfall of the previous year and creating ideal conditions for ice skating but challenging ones for skiing.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Strong winds, ice cause power outage in Umiujaq
A severe weather event featuring strong winds and ice accumulation caused a power outage for 73 customers in Umiujaq, Quebec on December 30, 2024. The remote community relies on Hydro-Québec's off-grid system, and while power was restored by December 31, the airport terminal remains reliant on a backup generator.
Umiujaq, Quebec, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Self-sustaining soil cavity hole
A small soil cavity in the UAF North Campus boreal forest remains open all winter, maintaining a steady temperature and emitting high CO2 levels, which is unusual for its self-sustaining nature and potential implications for permafrost research.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Vladimir Romanovsky, Leanne Bulger, Anna Liljedahl , Alexander Kholodov

Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, without power most of Christmas Day
Rankin Inlet in Nunavut experienced a power outage on Christmas Day due to snow and freezing rain causing ice accumulation on power lines, disrupting local services.
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
CBC News

Kuskokwim River ice still a work in progress, aerial survey finds
An aerial survey of the Kuskokwim River revealed variable ice conditions, impacting travel safety as the winter progresses.
Akiak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Supercooled rain in Fredrikstad: Dozens of pedestrians slipped on the ice
In Fredrikstad, a change in weather led to treacherous conditions for pedestrians, resulting in dozens of falls due to supercooled rain creating extremely slippery surfaces. Hospitals have reported a surge in related injuries.
Fredrikstad, Østfold, Norway
NRK Østfold

Ice causes cancellations and delays in Nome
Icy conditions in Nome, Alaska, caused numerous organizational closures and delays on December 10, affecting schools, preschools, and local corporations.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Not-so-snowy start to winter casts a gloomy shadow over Lapland tourism
A lack of snow in Finland's far north has disappointed tourists and snowmobile safari operators alike.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
News

Icy roads close Su Valley schools after high winds cause outages in Anchorage and Mat-Su
Schools in Susitna Valley were closed due to icy roads after high winds caused power outages in Anchorage and Mat-Su. Winds reached over 40 mph, with higher gusts reported in some areas.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Rain in December
Unusually warm weather in early December 2024 has led to rain in Anchorage, Alaska, marking the most December rainfall since 2018, driven by a warm air surge from the eastern Pacific.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Anchorage and some Mat-Su schools shift to remote learning as rain coats roads in ice
In Anchorage and Mat-Su, schools shifted to remote learning due to dangerous icy road conditions caused by freezing rain, leading to transportation disruptions and multiple accidents.
Anchorage Daily News

Cottage country digging out after massive snowfall but challenges persist
Residents and crews in Muskoka face significant challenges following a snowstorm that deposited over 140 cm of snow, necessitating extra snow-clearing efforts and states of emergency.
Muskoka, Ontario, Canada
CTV News

Several Roads Closed in Troms After Snow Avalanche
Several roads in Troms, Norway, have been closed due to snow avalanches, while authorities warn of challenging driving conditions across Northern Norway, particularly due to heavy snowfall and slick roads.
Troms, Norway
NRK

Storm Resumes Coal Delivery in Chukotka District
A storm in Chukotka cleared ice, enabling the coal ship 'Tanir' to deliver 2,000 tons of coal to the village of Uelen.
Uelen, Chukotka, Russia
IA Chukotka

Snow, wind storms hammer Sweden, power cuts in North
Severe snow and wind storms in northern Sweden have left at least 10,000 households without power in Västerbotten. Schools have closed, and traffic disruptions are reported across affected areas.
Västerbotten, Sweden
Eye on the Arctic

Snow falls on Vancouver Island north of Campbell River ahead of bomb cyclone
Snowfall has hit areas north of Campbell River in anticipation of a powerful bomb cyclone expected to bring severe wind and rain to Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK News

While not yet official, Mount Fuji gets its trademark snowcap after the longest delay in 130 years
Snow arrived at Mount Fuji more than a month after it normally would, after setting a record for the most-delayed snowfall in 130 years.
Mt Fuji, Japan

Sunny dry day in Chugach Mountains
A typically snowy region, Valdez experienced an unusually dry October with receding snow lines and a dry riverbed.
Valdez, Alaska, United States
Wilson Justin, Richard L Thoman Jr, Matthew Druckenmiller, Crane Johnson

Believe they could have saved more of the 190 reindeer that went through the ice with the right equipment
Nearly 190 reindeer perished after falling through thin ice in Finnmark, revealing a lack of proper rescue equipment and the need for better emergency preparedness in reindeer herding communities.
Kautokeino, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
NRK

Browning Crowns in Tombstone Territorial Park
Taller trees in Tombstone Territorial Park are experiencing browning due to increased exposure to harsh winter conditions, amidst inconsistent snowfall and local climate changes.
Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory

Late Freeze-Up on Elim Creek
Observers in Elim, Alaska, report an unusually late freeze-up of local creeks, a trend echoed across the Seward Peninsula and other parts of Alaska, attributed to warmer than normal air temperatures and impacting travel and subsistence activities.
Elim, Alaska, United States

Early season snowfall
An early snowfall was observed in Anchorage on October 9, 2024, weeks ahead of the typical mid-October snow, following a sudden temperature drop from the mid-50s to low 30s Fahrenheit.

The glaciers in Finnmark are melting the fastest of Norway's glaciers
The glaciers in Finnmark, particularly the Øksfjordjøkelen, are melting rapidly, with significant shrinkage observed each year, raising concerns about climate change impacts.
Øksfjordjøkelen, Loppa, Finnmark
NRK
Kristina Brekke, Hanne Larsen, Bent Lindsetmo, Kai Erik Bull, Vanja Ulfsnes

More than three tons of salmon were caught by fishermen in Chukotka
Cold spring and summer affected the results of salmon production in the district. Fishermen in the region caught more than three tons of salmon - this is several times less than in previous years, according to IA "Chukotka".
Khatyrka, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Sea-ice lies thick on the water as Russian oil tanker sails Arctic route without icebreaker escort
Loaded with up to 38,000 tons of oil, the 245 meter long tanker Shturman Skuratov makes this year's first transit shipment on the Northern Sea Route. Despite major concentrations of sea-ice, the tanker sails without icebreaker assistance.
Northern Sea Route
The Independent Barents Observer

Research vessel en route to Nome after trapped in ice for 14 days
A research vessel, Norseman II, was trapped in unusually dense sea ice for 14 days off the Seward Peninsula coast during a Pacific walrus study, but is now en route to Nome for repairs.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Kuskokwim River breakup floods roads, impacts drinking water for some communities
The Kuskokwim River breakup has led to widespread flooding, affecting roads and drinking water in several communities, with Kwethluk experiencing significant impacts.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

10-mile Lower Kuskokwim ice jam causes flooding, high water
A 10-mile ice jam on the Lower Kuskokwim River has caused severe flooding in Tuluksak, with the area experiencing its worst flooding in over a decade.
Aniak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Evan Erickson, KYUK - Bethel and Sage Smiley, KYUK

No sound of swamp frogs in 2024
In Kokhanok, Alaska, the absence of swamp (wood) frogs raises concerns about cause and potential environmental disruptions.
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States
Katie Spellman, Derek Sikes, Gemini , Brenda Nowatak

Weather Ups and Downs
Alaska experiences unusual weather with multiple false springs, marked by warm periods followed by heavy snow or cold, casting doubt on the arrival of summer.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Spring bank erosion and icicle formation
LEO Member Jeffrey Luther has been documenting erosion along the Noatak River for many years. His drone footage this spring captures new bank erosion features and icicle formations.
Noatak, Alaska, United States

For one Utqiaġvik family, spring bowhead whaling marks an important milestone
The article describes a Utqiagvik family's significant milestone in catching the first bowhead whale of the spring season, amidst challenges posed by climate change affecting sea ice stability.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Russia's Record Floods Submerge Uranium Mines in Urals
Environmentalists say the latest flooding may have sent radioactive substances into the river, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of people living near the banks of the Tobol downstream. State nuclear agency Rosatom, whose subsidiary operates the mines at the Dobrovolnoye uranium deposit, denied that its mining facilities were impacted by the flood.
Seversk, Tomsk, Russia
The Moscow Times

The Spring Crust Snow Conundrum
In past years observers reported on changes in the timing of when spring crust snow develops in Glen Alps. This year the crust is developing at lower elevation(s) but not at Glen Alps. Is it spring in Anchorage and still winter in the Chugach?
Lars Flora, Mike Brubaker, Richard L Thoman Jr

Partial Dam Collapse in Siberia’s Tomsk Region as River Swells
The swelling Tom River in southwestern Siberia has led to a partial dam collapse in the city of Tomsk. This year’s heavy rainfall, combined with abnormally warm spring weather, has led to severe flooding in Russia’s Urals and western Siberia. So far, the floods have submerged around 15,600 homes and 28,000 land plots in 193 Russian towns and cities across 33 regions.
Tomsk, Tomsk, Russia
The Moscow Times

Russia’s Orenburg Orders Mass Evacuation as City Braces for Flood Peak
The mayor of the southern Russian city of Orenburg urged residents to evacuate immediately on Friday as water in the nearby Ural River reached critically dangerous levels and was not expected to recede until next week.
Оренбург, Orenburg, Russia
The Moscow Times

'Worst floods in decades' hit Kazakhstan and Russia
Unprecedented flooding strikes Kazakhstan and Russia, marking the worst in decades for the region. The worse than usual seasonal floods have been caused by melting snow. Across the border in Russia, an oil refinery in the city of Orsk, 1,800km southeast of Moscow, has stopped operations because of the floods.
Orsk, Orenburg, Russia
BBC

Heavy rain heading towards Finland on Thursday
Early March's relatively mild start will get wetter in southern areas on Thursday, when a significant amount of rainfall is expected — with up to a full centimetre expected in western areas.
Finland
News

Houston man injured in moose trampling outside his home
A Houston man was injured by a moose near his home, an unusual event linked to increased moose aggression due to harsh winter conditions.
Houston, Alaska, United States

Blizzard leads to four-day power outage in Akulivik
KRG’s civil security director Craig Lingard said that in the last decade or so, “we have seen increased snowfall, even more so on the Hudson coast communities.”
Akulivik, Quebec
Nunatsiaq News

Shortening ice season on Chistochina River
"The river was iced over for less then 6 weeks! As opposed to 5 months of ice 2 to 3 feet thick before climate change."
Chistochina, Alaska, United States
Wilson Justin, Robert Busey, Crane Johnson

Russia reports the snowiest winter in the last decades
The current winter can be classified as abnormal and the snowiest in recent decades, the scientific director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center, Roman Vilfand.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
Prensa Latina - Latin American News Agency

Ice storm hits Pacific Northwest as East and South face bitter cold
A power line fell on a car in Portland, killing three people and injuring a baby during an ice storm that turned roads and mountain highways treacherous in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland, Oregon, United States

El Niño effects around Great Slave Lake made for 'spring-like' December in Łútsël K'é, N.W.T.
El Nino and climate change led to an unusually warm December in Łutsël, N.W.T., affecting Christmas plans and ice-related activities due to Great Slave Lake not freezing over as expected.
Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

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