LEO Network

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

Observations

Warm Weather Leads to Wet and Slippery Conditions Across Iceland
Unseasonably warm weather in Iceland is causing melting snow and thawing ice, leading to wet and slippery conditions, with yellow weather warnings issued for parts of the country.
Iceland
Iceland Review

More than 50 Floods Occurred Today
Unusually high precipitation in the Faroe Islands has led to over 50 flood incidents, severely impacting Kalsoy, Eysturoy, and Streymoy, and causing significant travel disruptions due to road flooding and expected wind gusts.
Faroe Islands
Dimma.fo

Deteriorating trail conditions postpone Holiday Classic sled dog race
The Holiday Classic sled dog race in Bethel, Alaska, has been postponed due to hazardous trail conditions caused by recent storms and warm temperatures.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Youngest North Coast Condor Dies of Lead Poisoning
B7, the youngest member of the North Coast condor flock, has died from lead poisoning, marking the first fatality in a Yurok Tribe-led restoration program. The incident underscores the ongoing threat of lead contamination in the wild.
Bald Hills, California, United States
North Coast Journal

Tidal action and fierce winds flood low-lying areas of Kwigillingok
On January 10, 2025, Kwigillingok experienced significant flooding due to strong tidal action and fierce winds, leading to a flood advisory and a federal disaster declaration for past damages.
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States
KYUK

The roofs of three apartment buildings were partially torn off by a storm in the Chukotka village of Lorino
A severe storm in Lorino, Russia, partially tore roofs off three apartment buildings, highlighting unusual weather patterns in the region.
Lorino, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Prochukotku.ru

Rain makes roads and sidewalks treacherous as Anchorage sees record high temperature
Merrill Field Airport reached 47 degrees on Monday and temperatures Tuesday remained in the high 30s and low 40s throughout Anchorage.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Unalaskans help document largest single-species wildlife die-off ever recorded
The murre die-off might have gone unexplained if it weren't for decades of observations from researchers and citizen scientists.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
KUCB | By Sofia Stuart-Rasi Published January 7, 2025 at 11:32 AM AKST

Early birds: Photographer spots Brant geese down-Island ahead of usual PQB return
A photographer captured Brant geese appearing early on Vancouver Island, suggesting a shift in their wintering patterns.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Strong winds destroy deer shelter at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Strong winds in Portage, Alaska destroyed a deer shelter at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, used for Sitka deer. Fundraising efforts to rebuild have nearly met the $30,000 goal.
Portage, Alaska, United States
Alaska's News Source

Extreme winds, waves and storm surge cause damage and flooding across N.L. Sunday
A high-intensity winter storm caused extensive damage and flooding in Newfoundland and Labrador, with high winds reaching 151 km/h and reports of significant flooding and infrastructure damage.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
PNI Atlantic News

No white Christmas for Nome and the region
Nome experienced an unusual snowless Christmas despite not having a dry December, with rain replacing snow and creating icy conditions that hinder traditional winter activities and local events.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Removing Ice with Hammers Outside Laxå to Allow Trains to Run Again
Train services between Stockholm and Gothenburg are disrupted due to ice on the contact wires in Laxå. Workers are manually removing ice, which is causing extended delays.
Laxå, Örebro, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Black Sea Oil Spill Spreads to Beaches in Annexed Crimea
Oil from damaged Russian tankers has contaminated beaches in Crimea, with significant environmental cleanup efforts underway.
Crimea, Russia
The Moscow Times

Repeated Oil Spill on Anapa Coast
On January 2nd, a repeat oil spill was observed on the beach near the Dynamo recreation base in Anapa, discovered by a volunteer team from the Leningrad region of Kuban, who are responsible for this area.
Anapa, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Российская газета

Extremely Low Extent of Sea Ice
The article reports extremely low sea ice measurements in the Arctic for January, with notable figures from both the Arctic and Southern Hemisphere.
Svalbard, Arctic, Norway
High North News

Equinor: Oil spill continues to spread – multiple observations along Helgeland
An accidental oil spill from Equinor’s Njord A platform on New Year’s Eve has resulted in raw oil clumps reaching the Nordland coast, prompting a major cleanup effort. Authorities and Equinor are urgently mapping the spread and mobilizing significant resources to prevent further environmental damage.
Helgeland, Nordland, Norway
NRK

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

December was second rainiest in Kodiak weather history
December in Kodiak was the second rainiest on record, with 14.73 inches of rain, driven by a weather pattern similar to December 1985. Only three days were without measurable precipitation, and the month was notably warmer, with rain continuing into January.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

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

Surfing sea otter clambers onto board in B.C., prompting warning
A sea otter was seen climbing onto surfboards and following surfers near Sooke, British Columbia, prompting safety warnings from Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding interactions with marine mammals.
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Contaminated water storage at Victoria Gold mine may be leaking: Yukon government
The Yukon government is investigating a potential leak in a contaminated water storage pond at the Eagle Gold Mine, which is at a critical water level. The mine has been out of operation since a landslide in June 2024.
Eagle Gold Mine, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

In the continental region on Friday down to minus 53 degrees
On December 27, Chukotka will experience cloudy weather with patches of clearing, and temperatures may drop to minus 53 degrees in the continental region.
Chukotka, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia
Chukotka News

Avalanche Blocks Road at Súðavíkurhlíð
Several avalanches occurred in Súðavíkurhlíð in Iceland's Westfjords, resulting in the closure of the road. Ongoing avalanche hazards and adverse weather conditions continue to impact the region.
Súðavíkurhlíð, Westfjords, Iceland
Vísir

Rare cougar sighting reported in urban Vancouver, far from wilderness
A rare sighting of a cougar was reported in Vancouver's urban Dunbar area, close to Pacific Spirit Regional Park, prompting caution among residents.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

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

Young mammoth remains discovered in Siberian permafrost after roughly 50,000 years
A juvenile mammoth was found in Siberian permafrost, remarkably preserved for over 50,000 years, near Batagaika crater.
Batagaika crater, Siberia, Russia
Eye on the Arctic

Strongest earthquake in Helsinki's history recorded on Christmas Day
Helsinki experienced its strongest recorded earthquake on Christmas Day, with a magnitude of 1.1. Though minor, it startled many residents, who reported a loud bang in the Käpylä area.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle News

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

Green grass on the Anchorage hillside is making for a not-so-white Christmas
An unusually low snowfall has left green grass visible on Anchorage's hillside, making for an atypical non-white Christmas in Alaska.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska's News Source

BC Ferries cancels multiple sailings Dec. 25 due to wind and heavy rain warnings
BC Ferries has cancelled all sailings between Duke Point and Tsawwassen on December 25th due to severe weather forecasts predicting high winds and heavy rain.
British Columbia, Canada
CHEK News

Tsunami from Takhini River landslide reminds Yukon geologist of Dawson City's risk
A landslide on the Takhini River created a 'small' tsunami, raising concerns about similar risks to Dawson City. Experts are monitoring potential hazard cascades from future slides.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Nome breaks record for highest temperature set in December
Nome experienced an unprecedented weather event with record-breaking high temperatures in December, reaching 44°F, disrupting daily life as rain turned snow into ice, and causing school closures and transportation challenges. This is only the second time in Nome’s 119 year climate history that the temperature has stayed continuously above freezing on back-to-back days in December.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Bethel Christmas bird counters spy rare bird, despite windy conditions
During the Christmas bird count in Bethel, despite high winds, volunteers spotted two bald eagles and a red-breasted nuthatch, marking the first sighting of the nuthatch in 21 years of the event.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Latest winter storm brings winds nearing 140 km/h off northern Vancouver Island
A powerful winter storm hit northern Vancouver Island, with winds reaching up to 140 km/h and up to 15 cm of snow predicted for B.C's north coast.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Where are the Songbirds?
There have virtually no songbirds at our bird feeder this month. Wondering (and a little worried) where they have all gone to, and whether this is neighborhood, or something that is being noticed more broadly.
Gillian Brubaker , Caroline Van Hemert, Kimberlee Beckmen, Mike Brubaker, Chris Bacon

Bin-busting bears in Tofino and Ucluelet making quick work of bear-resistant garbage cans
Wildlife officials report that bears in Tofino and Ucluelet have learned to breach bear-resistant garbage bins, leading to concerns about increased bear-human conflict.
Tofino and Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

The Netherlands sees longest period without sunshine in 31 years
The Netherlands has seen 10 sunless days in a row and with another one expected on Thursday, it will be the longest period without sunshine since 1993.
Vreeland, Utrecht, Netherlands
IamExpat

Support

Observation Template