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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

Record-breaking cold?
The thermometer at the main visitor centre in Þingvellir National Park went all the way down to –9.6°C last night and meteorologists confirm that is one of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in a built-up area at this time of year—and could even have been a new record.
Laugarvatn, South, Iceland
RÚV

After dry summer, Nome sets daily rain record
Nome recorded 1.27 inches of rain on Sept. 14
Nome, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Exceptional Growing Conditions during Last Days of Summer Saves Potato Harvest
Potato farmers in Þykkvabær on Iceland’s south coast are thankful that the last days of summer were wet and warm. The spring was cold and early August was colder than it has been in living memory.
Þykkvibaer, South, Iceland
Iceland Review

High winds, torrential rain wreck buildings in Sanikiluaq
“We stood at the window and we actually watched a shed get blown down the road. I saw an empty oil barrel get lifted up and put over a sea can. There were wires flying around,” Alison Drummond said.
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Frost Damage Forces Farmers to Buy Hay
Sveinbjörn Þór Sigurðsson of Búvellir farm in Aðaldalur, North Iceland says 80-90% of his hay fields were frozen in spring, and dry weather exacerbated the situation.
Near Húsavík, Northeast, Iceland
Iceland Review

Second year of Hemlock Looper Moth (Lambdina fiscellaria) outbreak returns to North Vancouver in larger numbers
The Hemlock Looper Moth outbreak is said to last between 3-4 years and now coincides with an outbreak of Phantom Hemlock Looper which saw its last outbreak more than a decade ago.
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Stunning beach with hundreds of colourful sparkling pebbles damaged by typhoon Maysak
The remarkable glass beach was formed after years of dumping old vodka, wine and beer bottles, along with jars and ceramics during the Soviet era. Record strong wind destroyed at least half of the unique beach on Ussuri bay.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia
Siberia Times

Typhoon Maysak Batters Russia’s Far East
High winds reached speeds of up to 154 km/hr. At least three people died and dozens were injured. The storm unmoored a floating dry dock, causing it to slam into some of the vessels making up Russia's Pacific Fleet.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia
The Moscow Times

Most of Hay River's 2 Seasons Adventures beach front campground wiped out by weekend storm
A Hay River tourism operation on the shoreline of Great Slave Lake has been hit hard by high water and high wind.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada
NNSL Media

Rainiest summer on record in over 100 years
Prince Rupert residents only had one dry day during the entire month of August and got a third of their annual rainfall in three summer months.
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
CBC

‘Merciless’ rain in Southeast Alaska breaks records, dampens spirits
Record rainfall in parts of Southeast are just one more reason 2020 will be a year some will be happy to forget. Ketchikan recorded 47 inches of rain from June to August.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Susitna Valley gets a dump of snow as winds sweep through Anchorage
While Anchorage was getting hammered by wind, snow was piling up in the Susitna Valley — with a whopping 4 feet of snow at Hatcher Pass, according to a rough estimate.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Intensive rain flood and landslide
Storm event brought high winds and flooding and landslides to Ensenada.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Richard L Thoman Jr, María Félix-Lizárraga

'Funky' weather brings late harvest
It was out of habit that Rachel Kukull carried foraging tools while hiking through Chilkat State Park. The custom paid off when she spotted on the forest floor a flash of gold that made her scream. Chanterelles in November!
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Winter Storm Batters Western Alaska Coast, Taking Out Power And Sea Ice
A big winter storm came in from the Bering Sea and battered the Western Alaska coast from the evening of Nov. 25 through Nov. 26. Some communities, like Hooper Bay, have reported flooding.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Bad weather and road salt blamed for uncharged electric buses in Umea
Fredrik Dahlborg, manager of bus manufacturer VDL, told P4 Västerbotten that a combination of the weather and road salt is the problem. Despite this, Umeå municipality say they will keep using the electric buses.
Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Weather delays start of Baja 1000
Ensenada and the surrounding areas of the Northern part of the Baja California peninsula have been inundated with more than four inches of rainfall over the last three days which has forced us, in the interest of safety, to delay the start of the race by 24 hours,
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
RACER

Nearly 1,500 without power as storms roll through
Nearly 1,500 people throughout San Diego County are without power as winter storms sweep through the area.
San Diego, California, United States
KGTV

Dry Lake Now Wet
Clark Dry Lake
Twitter

Sudden snowstorm snarled traffic, caused accidents in Kazakh capital
A severe and sudden snow storm caused traffic jams and road accidents. From Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 alone, more than 230 crashes occurred on the roads of Nur-Sultan, according to the city’s police department. Five people were injured in the accidents.
Nur-Sulta, Kazakhstan
The Astana Times

281 and counting: Well into fall, Hawaii is still setting record highs
From Jan. 1 through Friday, Hawaii has set or tied 281 record high temperatures at official Weather Service stations located at four island airports ― in Honolulu, Hilo, Lihue and Kahului.
Kahului, Hawaii, United States

Pueblo sees record snowfall and more to come
Pueblo broke a 102-year-old daily record for snowfall Monday with 3.8 inches — and the cold weather continued Tuesday. Monday’s snowfall broke the old record of 2.9 inches set in 1917.
Pueblo, Colorado, United States
The Pueblo Chieftain

California fires see 200,000 evacuated while 3 million may lose power
For the third year in a row, an enormous wildfire is destroying homes and properties in California, with smaller fires raging elsewhere in the state.
Sonoma Valley, California, USA
New Scientist

Storm cuts off power to thousands of homes, heads east on Saturday
More than 40,000 households faced blackouts overnight.
Pori, Satakunta, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Stoop Pumpkins Rotting Before Halloween
This stoop-pumpkin-rotting event is unusual compared with Dr. Johnson's long-term (lifetime) time series of annual October observations of stoop pumpkins in New York City.
New York City, New York, United States
Twitter

Climate change thaws permafrost
Nils Thomas discovered "sinkhole" in the middle of Finnmarksvidda. Scientists have long warned against this, and now it happened.
Vuohcetjávri, Kautokeino
NRK

Alberta’s bull trout listed as threatened and its ecosystem is in jeopardy
Bull trout, which are technically char, mostly inhabit cold and pristine snow-melt-fed waters. Changes in water quality and temperatures challenge the future for this species in Alberta.
Alberta
thestar.com

Tree apocalypse in Winnipeg
City deals with impact of early-season snowstorm on roads, energy grid, tree canopy.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Winnipeg Free Press

Vancouver broke a 103-year-old temperature record today
The last time it was this cold was in 1916, with a low temperature of -0.6°C.”
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Daily Hive

Nepal is reeling from an unprecedented dengue outbreak
As climate change opens new regions to mosquitoes, Nepal suffers an outbreak of the painful viral disease that has sickened more than 9,000 people.
Nepal
Science News

Warm water, not sea lice, caused massive salmon die-off
Northern Harvest Sea Farms is busy cleaning pens of dead salmon, and the province's head aquaculture vet says higher-than-average water temperatures are to blame.
Fortune Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
CBC

Unseasonable rains, lightning and thunder
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Lorena spares Los Cabos, heads up coast of Mexico’s Baja
Hurricane Lorena spared the resort-studded twin cities of Los Cabos a direct hit and has been reduced to a tropical storm Saturday as it heads up the east coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula
Los Cabos, Michoacán, Mexico
Washington Post

Declining Snow and Summer Rain in the Alberni Valley
"During my childhood, Mt. Arrowsmith and surrounding peaks tended to have a fair amount of snow cover; it was into the summer months before it totally disappeared."
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Ocean temperature hits 78 at Scripps Pier, highest September reading on record
Scripps Oceanography says rapid heating was caused by fair, hot weather
La Jolla, California, United States
San Diego Union-Tribune

Scientists monitoring new marine heat wave off B.C. coast similar to 'the Blob'
A new marine heat wave spreading across a portion of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia resembles the infamous "blob" that disrupted marine life five years ago.
Northeast Pacific Ocean
CBC

Svalbard is now experiencing unusually large amounts of ice
The Meteorological Institute (MET) is currently registering an unusual phenomenon around Svalbard, unusually large amounts of sea ice.
Nordaustlandet, Svalbard
abc nyheter

Getting help from Sweden and Denmark for coping with the rains in Fredrikstad
Nearly 1,000 water damages have been reported following the heavy rainfall night to Sunday.
Fredrikstad, Østfold, Norway
NRK

Hundreds of apparently 'flash-frozen' turtles wash ashore in New England
Robert Prescott, of the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, believes a warming trend allowed the turtles to delay their migration south.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States
the Guardian

Heavy showers, hail and thunderstorms for Auckland, flooding risk in Otago
And the next few days show no signs of letting up.
Otago Region, New Zealand
NZ Herald

In Siberia, When it Snows it Snows
In the industrial city of Norilsk in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region, which sits above the Arctic Circle, visibility dropped to zero and buses, planes and ships were canceled or rerouted as a snowstorm raged on Tuesday, reaching speeds of 25 meters per second. The city's emergency services stayed on high alert as a holiday was declared for children and mobile heating stations were set up.
Норильск, Красноярский край, Russia
Moscow Times

Finland has greyest start to November since 2000 – but there's light at the end of the tunnel
The Central Finland town of Jyväskylä has had a sum total of 4.5 hours of sunshine so far in November.
Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi, Finland
Yle Uutiset

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

130+cm of snow has fallen here and winter hasn't even begun
Bundle up, sit by the fire and warm your hot chocolate before reading this. It's only November 12 and one spot in the country has already picked up four and a half feet of snow! And that lucky (or maybe unlucky) winner is...
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The Weather Network

Unusually warm early winter in Lapland
Enontekiö, Lapland, Finland

'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

Aftermath of Nov. Storm at Kivalina
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Italy floods leave 30 dead — 'illegal building' targeted by regional court
At least 30 people have been killed over the past week in storms, tornadoes, floods, mudslides and gale-force winds across Italy.
Palermo, Italy
euronews

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) die-off French Beach
Many mature Sitka spruce trees dying off from French Beach south into Sooke along waterfront. Many dead partway up and needles thin.
North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Elizabeth Graham, Jacob Earnshaw, Robin Mulvey

Three-quarters of Venice underwater as city hit by worst flooding in a decade
At least 11 people were killed across Italy as a result of severe storms, authorities say.
Venezia, Venezia, Italy
CBS News

Cordova windstorm wrecks roofs, sets derelict fish processor adrift
A 100-foot vessel, the Polar Bear, ended up aground on an island across a channel from the town.
Cordova, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Remote Hawaiian island vanishes underwater after hurricane
East Island, a strip of gravel and sand northwest of Honolulu, "appears to be under water" after Hurricane Walaka surged past Hawaii, officials said.
East Island, Hawai'i
USA TODAY

Nearly 3,000 people evacuated in Puerto Vallarta
Between two thousand and three thousand are estimated to have been evacuated in Puerto Vallarta, according to estimates by municipal authorities; however,
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta News

Seismologist says earthquake may have triggered mudslide on the Haines Highway
Southeast Alaska had a very dry September. Heavy rains returned to the region this month, triggering a large mudslide on the Haines Highway.
Haines, Alaska, United States
KHNS - Haines

'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

Warm early winter topples century-old records
For the first time in more than a century with no recorded snow -- not even a trace -- this late in October, as of Tuesday the 16th. On top of that, warm weather across the state is setting marks for the latest freeze date on record.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

20°C in October, Autumn temperature records broken
October temperature records were broken on Sunday afternoon, with the mercury surpassing 20°C in many places, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Ylivieska, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

One killed as Wales battered by storms
Rivers burst their banks, homes were flooded and travel was impacted as Wales was battered by Storm Callum.
Wales, United Kingdom
BBC News

At least 34 dead after Uganda landslide
At least 34 people have been killed after a river in eastern Uganda burst its banks, sending thick sludge and rocks barreling into homes.
Bukalasi, Uganda
The Times of India

Magnitude of Storm Callum captured as Scots hit by landslides and 70mph winds
The stunning image from the University of Dundee shows the scale of the extreme weather engulfing the country. And it comes as heavy rain has caused further landslips delaying the reopening of the key roadways.
Scotland, United Kingdom
The Scottish Sun

Feed the birds, people urged
The latest group to feel the ongoing effect of Iceland’s poor summer weather this year is the country’s bird population. With few berries and seeds on trees and bushes in the southern half of the country, experts worry for the birds’ survival this winter.
Reykjavík, Reykjavík, Iceland
RÚV

Catching some hell; Hurricane Michael slams into Florida
Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph Wednesday, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods before continuing its destructive march inland across the Southeast.
Port Saint Joe, Florida, United States
AP NEWS

Bad weather impacts grain harvest
Grain harvests in North Iceland this autumn do not look encouraging, farmers say. A frost in late August damaged the corn and wet weather in the autumn has delayed harvests.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Officials Weighing Options As North Strabane Landslide Threatens More Homes
More rain fell over the weekend, which is adding to the urgency in North Strabane, where a landslide has led to the demolition of two homes.
Strabane, Pennsylvania, United States
KDKA

Powerful winds rock Baffin Island, sending debris flying through Iqaluit
Nunavut is bracing for another day where wind gusts could reach 140 km/h after severe weather sent debris flying through the streets of the territory's capital overnight.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Vancouver temperatures hit an all-time record low yesterday
The low temperature in Vancouver hit a chilling 1.6°C, breaking an all-time low that's stood in place since 1937 when temperature gauges hit 2.8°C.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Daily Hive

‘Mosquito-pocalypse’: North Carolina residents battle massive bugs after hurricane
Massive, aggressive mosquitoes are swarming North Carolina weeks after Hurricane Florence tore through the region.
Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
Global News

Drought in a Rain Forest
The Tongass Forest in southeast Alaska, a temperate rain forest, is experiencing record-low precipitation and severe drought conditions, impacting community hydroelectricity production.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

‘Rare September thunderstorm’ brews after fall’s first big windstorm hits Southcentral
Lightning strikes seen Monday in Cook Inlet and on the Kenai Peninsula were heading toward South Anchorage, a meteorologist said.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Unusually warm weather ‘obliterating’ September records in Anchorage, while dry streak continues
You're not imagining things: September's weather has been one for the record books, for both the warm weather and unusual streak of sunny days.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Edmonton on way to new snowfall record for Sept. 21
Edmonton is on its way to the snowiest Sept. 21 since 1968, perhaps not what people wanted to see on the last full day of summer, says Dan Kulak, meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

87 days of smog: Southern California just saw its longest streak of bad air in decades
Southern California went 87 days without a clean air day, the longest stretch of consecutive ozone pollution violations in at least 20 years. Regulators blame the persistence in pollution on hot, stagnant weather and are studying whether climate change is driving it.
Los Angeles, California, United States
latimes.com

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

Another Landslide Hits The Philippines
At least 15 people are dead and dozens more are missing.
Naga City, Naga, Philippines
New York Times

Denver extends heat wave record for September with ninth consecutive 90-degree day
Denver's hot weather keeps on sizzling, tying a record for consecutive 90-degree days in September.
Denver, Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

You're not imagining it — September is colder than usual in Yellowknife
According to Environment Canada, not even halfway through September, Yellowknife has already broken cold records for three days.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

'Absolutely abysmal': Alberta farmers lament early arrival of snow in harvest season
Farmers in Edmonton and into northern Alberta, still have plenty of crop out on the fields and the early arrival of winter conditions does not bode well for harvest season.
Gibbons, Alberta, Canada
Edmonton Journal

Low Coastal Cloud Ceiling on Landing
White, puffy, clouds unusually close to the land.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

High And Dry: Swiss Army Airlifts Water To Cows In Drought-Stricken Mountains
Water scarcity and heat are threatening two of Switzerland's main agricultural products: milk and cheese. But the shortage affects far more than cows — Swiss glaciers also feed Europe's major rivers.
Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
NPR.org

When Heavy Rain, Erosion and Gravity Cause the Earth to Give Way
In the mountainous areas like western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, heavy rainfall is not just a hassle, but can lead to problems exacerbated by the region’s constrained topography.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Route Fifty

Unusual September weather pattern brings sunshine to Southcentral Alaska
“We typically don’t see this type of pattern in September,” an Anchorage meteorologist said. Anchorage's record high temperature was broken on both Friday and Saturday.

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

May-August period was the warmest on record in Finland, says FMI
It was the hottest summer in the 174-year history of weather records in Helsinki, and the second hottest in the 118-year history of the weather station in Sodankylä, Lapland.
Finland
Helsinki Times

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

Dawson City had wettest August in 54 years
According to Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips, it was the third-wettest August in Dawson since records began in 1897.
Dawson, Yukon, Canada

Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) mortality from drought stress
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Indigenous reindeer herders request emergency aid after drought, wildfires
The Swedish Saami Association is demanding a comprehensive aid package from Stockholm after a season of unprecedented drought and wildfire ravaged the country, including key reindeer grazing areas.
Swedish Sapmi
RCI | English

More electrical storms to hit NZ as Roxburgh district still recovers from weekend storm
School out for Roxburgh pupils as third day of thunderstorms looms.
Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Coral Found Following November Storm
Red coral observed near Port Heiden along the Bering Sea coast.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Unalakleet's Fall Storm Aftermath 11/09
Using a hand-held Garmin Montana 650t unit, I took photos of the tideline in three areas.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Foggy Fall of 2017 in Noorvik
Many foggy days in Noorvik during the fall of 2017.
Noorvik, Alaska, United States

Unalakleet's Fall Storm Aftermath
I documented my tracks using the Garmin unit adjusting the track setting to log about every 5 feet, which was saved as a GPS Exchange (GPX) Format. From there, I imported the information into Google Earth Desktop as a KML track.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Wednesday's warm weather record-breaking in Duncan
Weather fronts bring more rain
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Cowichan Valley Citizen

Walker declares disaster for September storm
The North Slope Borough will have access to help with recovery efforts for the autumn storm that pummeled the coastline earlier this year, causing more than a million dollars worth of damage.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Second storm batters western coastline
The recent storm brought water levels up to the lagoon bank by town. Along the Chukchi Coast, storm surge and tides were expected to raise sea levels four to six feet above the normal high tide line, the weather service noted.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Report out on Kivalina evacuation route and school site
The school site is about six miles northeast of town. If constructed, it would serve as the terminus of the evacuation route and as a modern shelter capable of housing the entire community.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

'What's with the weather?': Wacky weather in Nunavut breaks records
Nunavut experienced some 'strange' weather in the past few days, causing shipping containers to fly through one community and muddy puddles in another.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

After the Storm
A recent storm in Norton Sound has increased coastal erosion affecting community transportation.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Warm & Rainy Fall Season
The past couple years have been warmer than normal contributing to where the river is still flowing ice and with some of the plants still green.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Blizzard warning in effect for much of Western Alaska
The National Weather Service forecast wind gusts up to 50 mph in some places and whiteout conditions.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Storm causes flooding, erosion across Northwest Alaska
"Yesterday we came over to do an assessment of the high-water flood storm," said Northwest Arctic Borough Deputy Director of Public Services Dickie Moto, who grew up in Deering. "They lost a lot of ground on the front and on the back side of town because of the high water and rough seas.
Deering, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Autumn storm that battered Utqiaġvik coastline caused more than $10 million in damage
The storm began Sept. 28 and continued for several days. A handful of Utqiaġvik’s roads were damaged or destroyed, and the community's freshwater source was nearly compromised.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Walloping of snow in Yellowknife on Tuesday a record-breaker
It’s a winter wonderland in Yellowknife Wednesday, as the city cleans up after 24.2 centimetres of snow fell on Tuesday— a record breaking amount.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Why a halo around the sun or moon?
A large ring or circle of light around the sun or moon is called a 22-degree halo by scientists.
EarthSky

Storm Surge
A strong storm impacting NW Alaska with high winds and sea level rise (over 6 ft) caused localized flooding in Kotzebue.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Pacific Communities Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
SUVA, Fiji, Nov 8 2017 (IPS) - In the Pacific, climate change is an ever-present threat, undermining human rights, livelihoods, and security. Pacific Islanders are working with courage and resolve to build the resilience of their communities and to catalyse international actions towards ending global carbon pollution. While the Pacific has contributed almost nothing to the causes of climate change, the region is determined to lead the world towards a more just and sustainable future. And while often labelled as ‘small island states’, Pacific Island countries are more accurately characterised as ‘large oceans states’ as they are custodians of vast tracts of ocean, to which their economies, culture, identities and livelihoods are inextricably tied.
Suva, Central, Fiji
ReliefWeb

Records from Ancient China Reveal Link Between Epidemics and Climate Change
A new study suggests that long periods of cold, dry weather helped drive epidemics in ancient and pre-modern China
China
Scientific American

Prolonged Fog in Anchorage Area
Near record stretch of foggy days at Ted Stevens International Airport.

Dense Fog in Anchorage
This is the second longest period of visibility remaining this low at the Anchorage Airport.

Heavy Fog Brings Diverted Flights To Kenai Airport From Anchorage
The Kenai Municipal Airport and the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport have both experienced heavy delays, cancellations, and re-routed flights over the past week.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Radio Kenai

Warm Winter Weather Patterns along Kuskokwim River
This is the second year in a row that people from Chuathbaluk are able to use boats (skiffs) on the Kuskokwim River in November.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Maine will seek disaster aid as roughly 70,000 remained without power 4 days after storm
The number of outages is down from a peak of 484,000 statewide after winds and rain ravaged the region Monday morning.
Cumberland Center, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Fog For Days
More open water on rivers and lakes that add to the near-ground moisture.
Anvik, Alaska, United States

Blanket of fog envelops Anchorage
A heavy fog that rolled into Anchorage in time for Halloween is expected to persist into Thursday afternoon.
Alaska Dispatch News

Weather in the Beaufort Delta Just Like Spring
Freda Alunik says it looks 'just like spring' at her camp near the Mackenzie River.
Mackenzie River, Northwest Territory, Canada
CBC News

Floods close bridge, but no injuries reported
The torrential rain, exceptional even by Juneau’s standards, comes courtesy of Typhoon Lan, whose remnants have left Asia.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Wind storm batters Maine
We put out the call for images of storm damage across the state Monday morning and our readers answered with some great shots.
Yarmouth, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Octopus invasion on Welsh beach blamed on effects of recent storms
An incredibly rare octopus invasion may have been caused by recent storms. Storm Ophelia, quickly followed by Storm Brian caused huge waves and storm surges as gusts of up to 80 mph hit the Welsh coast.
New Quay, Wales, United Kingdom
The Telegraph

A Not So Normal Summer
Drought, causing low waters in Goodnews River, no blackberries, and early cool weather.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Ireland Hit by Remnants of Strongest Eastern Atlantic Hurricane on Record
Post-tropical cyclone Ophelia put Ireland on a shutdown.
Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Slate Magazine

At Least 3 Killed As Historic Storm Ophelia Hits Ireland, Turns U.K. Skies Red
The remnants of post-tropical cyclone Ophelia hit parts of Ireland with gusts of more than 90 miles per hour. The storm knocked out power to some 360,000 customers.
Dundalk, Leinster, Ireland
NPR.org

Citing safety concerns, airlines refuse to fly to permafrost-damaged Tununak Airport
About a year ago, Tununak opened a $19 million, state-of-the-art airport, but shifting permafrost is buckling the runway.
Tununak, Alaska, United States

Arctic on Fire | World Policy Institute
On June 19, 2015, a slow-moving low-pressure system with spectacular thunderstorms that produced little rain began making its way through Alaska. By the time the storms finally petered out about a week later, 61,000 bolts of lightning had been unleashed on a boreal forest in the state. No one had ever seen anything quite like it, not even in 2004, when 8,500 lightning strikes were recorded in a single day.
Interior Alaska, United States
World Policy Blog

Wildfires in Northern California Kill at Least One and Destroy 1,500 Buildings
Mass evacuations were ordered in what is being called one of the most destructive fire emergencies in the state’s history.
Glen Ellen, California, United States
The New York Times
Thomas Fuller, Jonah Engel Bromwich and Daniel Victor

Flood warnings in effect for Alaska’s Bering Sea coastline
Waters were expected to reach their highest levels Monday night and into Tuesday.
Bering Sea, Alaska

The crater that is growing in Siberia is a climate time bomb
Melting permafrost, which some attribute to climate changes, is creating huge craters in Siberia. The craters are appearing as layers of ice melt, and larg
Batagajka
The Vintage News

Low Water Levels in the Yukon River
Water levels are 5 feet below normal.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Alaska’s farming future is warmer, and probably weirder
The state's small farms are booming amid longer growing seasons and thriving farmers markets. But climate change has also made for less predictable weather.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Snow Falls In The Sierra Nevada On Summer's Last Full Day
Hurricanes have dominated weather news lately. When it snowed on Thursday in the Sierra Nevada, it not only added a new weather element to the news mix, it got resorts thinking about ski season.
Kirkwood, California, United States
NPR.org

Up to 71″ of Snow Forecast on Mt. Rainier This Week
NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Mt. Rainier area of Washington State for today including Crystal Mountain ski resort. The Winter Storm Warning is calling for 6-10 of snow by 5…
Crystal Mountain ski resort, WA
SnowBrains

Hurricane Maria’s aftermath: ‘There will be no food in Puerto Rico’
In a matter of hours, Hurricane Maria wiped out about 80 percent of the crop value in Puerto Rico — making it one of the costliest storms to hit the island’s agriculture industry.
Yabucoa, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Frances Robles, Luis Ferre-Sadurni, The New York Times

Hurricane Maria Makes Landfall in Dominica as Other Islands Brace for Potential Disaster
Hurricane Maria barreled through the islands that curve through the Caribbean.
Dominican Republic, Caribbean
The New York Times

For first time in 300 years, Barbuda is empty
When Hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean island of Barbuda, the storm left it uninhabitable." And, now, for the first time in 300 years, no one lives there.
Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
CNN
Joe Sterling and Cassandra Santiago, CNN

B.C. loses more than one million hectares to wildfires
There have been 1,249 fires that have burned through roughly 1,173,886 hectares in B.C.
British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Small potatoes, big need: food bank blames bad weather for poor yield
The head of the Ottawa Food Bank says their ability to provide fresh produce to people in need has taken a hit this summer after a wet and cold growing season stunted production of staple foods like potatoes and carrots.
Stittsville, Ontario, Canada
CBC News

Debris Eroding from Old Dumpsite
Community concerned about health and safety from old site.
Cheenik Creek, Alaska, United States

Monarch butterflies might vanish from Tri-City summers
A study in Biological Conservation led by a WSU scientist documents the steep decline of monarch butterflies in the West. They could be functionally extinct within a few decades.
Irrigon, Oregon, United States
tri-cityherald

Wildfire smoke leads to weather alert on Vancouver Island
Environment Canada says these smoky conditions could remain until Wednesday.
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Victoria News

Skagway rocked by second landslide in under 2 weeks
Early Tuesday morning, a rockslide crashed into Skagway’s largest cruise ship dock. It was the second slide event in less than two weeks and caused a pair of cruise ships to divert to other ports. Some Skagway residents are calling on the city and the private company that owns the dock to take action.
Skagway, Alaska, United States

Dry Koksilah River threatens fish in Cowichan Valley
The Koksilah River is in trouble, with low flows threatening fish populations.
Koksiloh River, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Russian River flooding is affecting Kodiak residents
Russian River flooded last week in Kodiak leaving some residents scrambling to address the damage.
Womens Bay, Alaska, United States

No injuries in Sitka Labor Day landslide
A landslide in Sitka early Monday afternoon stranded people on either end of the road system for about eight hours, but otherwise there no reports of damage or injuries.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

The Post-Harvey Mosquito Invasion Seems Like Hell
Plenty of people have described Hurricane Harvey as a disaster of biblical proportions, and it seems the next plague is upon us. It’s not locusts. Thanks to untold quantities of filthy standing water, millions of mosquitos are starting to hatch. And yes, they do bite. They love to bite.
Houston, Texas, United States
Gizmodo

Irritating smoke from wildfires choking US West, turning lives upside down
The smoke from massive wildfires hangs like fog over large parts of the U.S. West, an irritating haze causing health concerns, forcing sports teams to change schedules and disrupting life from Seattle to tiny Seeley Lake, Montana.
California
Fox News

L.A. Area Wildfire Spurs Hundreds Of Evacuations, Smoke Keeps Others Indoors
Los Angeles County's La Tuna Fire is one of 29 burning across the state, and "is the largest fire in the history of L.A. city," Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
Brace Canyon, Burbank, California, United States

Another 1,500 evacuated from Manitoba First Nation due to wildfire
The Canadian Red Cross says an additional 1,500 people from the Garden Hill First Nation in Manitoba have been given evacuation orders due to wildfire smoke in the Island Lake area.
Garden HiIl First Nation

Jolly Mountain Fire threatens 3,800 homes, unhealthy levels of smoke hit Yakima
UPDATE 3:55 P.M. With assistance from several supporting agencies, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office completed evacuation notices mid-day Saturday in the Roslyn, Ronald and Lake Cle Elum areas.
Jolly Mountain
Yakima Herald-Republic

Assessing the U.S. Climate in September 2017
During September, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 66.3°F, 1.4°F above average.
Contiguous United States
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

San Francisco sets all-time heat record downtown at 106 degrees during hottest recorded summer
According to the National Weather Service, 36.5 million residents, 98% of Californians, are under a heat advisory Friday as a high-pressure system broils the state from the Oregon to Mexico borders.
San Francisco, California, United States
latimes.com

Bellingham Bay Water Merging
On a field trip with Northwest Indian College Geology class to Chuckanut Drive saw water with apparent difference in color.
Bellingham, Washington

Rise in reindeer deaths in the Arctic linked with loss of sea ice and extreme weather
Two extreme weather events in 2006 and 2013 caused mass starvation among the reindeer herds, and researchers for the first time have linked these extreme weather events in the coastal mainland in northwest Russia with sea ice loss in the adjoining Barents and Kara seas.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
Phys.org

Healthy Snowfall is Back
Three healthy snowfalls with progessively more snow each time.

Warmer Temperatures Affecting Red Elderberry?
Warmer temperatures during this fall/winter seem to be changing there life cycle.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

Warm Fall Weather
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Late Freeze-up of Koyuk River
Koyuk River foze solid by Oct-14 by the 28th there was open water.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Himalayan Blackberries (Rubus armeniacus) Fruit Second Time
Himalaya blackberry is an introduced, perennial, spreading shrub.
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Sea Ice - No Sea Ice!?
Sea ice is here and then disapears.
Elim, Alaska, United States

First Sight of Snow
Early sighting of snow this year.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Unusual Fast Flooding
Unusually fast flooding on the Chignik River.
Chignik Lake, Alaska, United States

Warm Weather Delaying Winter
Winter is near, but, it is unusually nice outside these days.
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Septembers Are Changing in Lower Kalskag
Unusually rainy year for Lower Kalskag this year.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Widespread power outages reported as storm moves through Southcentral Alaska
Hundreds of Chugach Electric customers in Anchorage and Girdwood remained without power Wednesday morning amid outages from Fairbanks to Nikiski.

Anchorage braces for wind storm
High wind warning for Anchorage. Winds could reach 50 mph with gusts to 100 mph.
KTUU

Anidación de bobo patas azules en Isla San Jerónimo, Baja California
Blue-footed booby nesting on San Jeronimo Island.
Isla San Jerónimo, B.C., Mexico
Yutzil Lora Cabrera, Margarita Delgadillo A., Alejandra Fabila-Blanco, María Félix-Lizárraga

Hot Sun
It seems very warm when the sun comes out.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Extreme Weather
High rate of change in weather conditions

Winter River Breakup
11-18-14 Winter river break-up - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
11-15-14 Unseasonably warm - Kwinhagak, Alaska, USA
Kwinhagak, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
11-13-14 Unseasonable warm - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

Unseasonably Warm and Bad Ice
11-11-14 Unseasonable warm - Ruby, Alaska, USA
Ruby, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea Superstorm Among the Strongest Extratropical Cyclones on Record
Partially derived from former Super Typhoon Nuri, the typhoon's remnants joined up with the polar jet stream and a very strong disturbance in the mid-latitude belt of westerly winds, leading to explosive development of low pressure.
The Weather Channel

Unseasonably warm and raining
11-01-14 Unseasonably warm - Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA
Pitka's Point, Alaska, United States

Unseasonable weather
10-10-14 Unseasonable weather - St. Michael, Alaska, USA
St. Michael, Alaska, USA

Landslide destroys Starrigavan restoration projects
High rainfall this month is being blamed for a major landslide near Sitka. The US Forest Service reports that a 100-acre slide came down in the Starrigavan Valley, about ten miles from town. The slide, and water damage to an ATV trail in the valley and other hiking trails elsewhere in Sitka -- all add up to a tough month for the agency.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
KCAW

Starvation killed 80,000 reindeer after unusual Arctic rains cut off the animals’ food supply
Sixty-one thousand reindeer starved to death in the northwestern reaches of the Russian tundra in November 2013 in the largest recorded mortality event of its kind.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
Washington Post

Weather Effects Caribou Migration and Season
11-11-13 Weather effects caribou migration and season - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Storm Surge
Early fall weather conditions brought on an extreme storm surge in a Norton Sound community.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States

Storm Damage
Series of storms contribute to flooding, erosion, infrastructure damage.

Warm and Wet Halloween
Anchorage is having the warmest October on record with an average temperature of 43 degrees. That will beat the record set in 1936 and residents are remarking on the novelty of having green grass and rain on Halloween.

Warm weather delays subsistence
10-24-13 Warm weather delays subsistence - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Too Wet for Food Preserving
10-15 13 Too wet for food preservation - Elim, Alaska, USA
Elim, Alaska, United States

Sewage Lagoon Vulnerable - Coastal Erosion
Coastal erosion potential threat to community sewage lagoon.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Anchorage ties record for most consecutive rainy days
Rain overnight in Anchorage pushed the number of consecutive rainy days in the city to 18 -- tying a record set in September 1919, the National Weather Service reports.

Snow Well Below Normal
Half of what we usually have this time of year.

B.C.'s Cowichan River in danger of drying up
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

Extreme Rain & Flooding
9-21-12 Extreme rain and flooding - Wasilla, Alaska, USA
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Windfall creates flood hazard
9-5-12 Windfall causes flood hazard - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Heat lightning
9-1-12 Heat lightning - Kiska Island, Alaska, USA
Kiska Island, Alaska, USA

North Pacific 'super storm' makes its way toward Western Alaska coastline
The National Weather Service predicted one of the largest storms on record blasting up the Bering Sea coast. Could this be the first Arctic hurricane?

Shell shock - thousands of Ninilchik clams wash up on beach in unusual die-off
A winter storm lashed the sandy beaches at the mouth of the Ninilchik River with ferocious waves, powerful enough to uproot thousands of razor clams.
Ninilchik, Alaska, United States
Redoubt Reporter

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