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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

Nunavut caribou that attacked heavy equipment tests positive for rabies
A caribou in Nunavut, which unusually attacked heavy equipment, tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to warn against handling or consuming meat from infected animals and to report any animals showing rabies symptoms.
Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada
Yukon News

Time for a bear: Baie Verte Peninsula town gets midday visit from a polar bear
Residents of Ming's Bight were alerted by a low-flying helicopter as a polar bear made an unexpected midday visit, prompting immediate safety precautions for children and locals.
Ming's Bight, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
SaltWire

Warm weather, rain force early closure of Dawson City's ice bridge
Dawson City's annual ice bridge on the Yukon River was closed early due to warm temperatures and rain creating unsafe conditions for travelers.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
CBC News

Hoopoe hoopla: 'In my 40 years of birding, I've never seen anything like this spring'
Record-breaking sightings of the exotic Eurasian hoopoe in southern Ireland have Irish birdwatchers buzzing, while native robins appear unsettled by their unexpected arrival.
Cork, Munster, Ireland
The Irish Times

April Storm Brings Avalanche Danger and Winter Weather
A powerful April storm in Anchorage, Alaska, has triggered high avalanche danger along with heavy snowfall and strong winds, leading to travel advisories and warnings from local authorities.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Boreal Owl––A hungry winter nomad from the Interior
From Unalakleet to Nome, enchanting, pint-sized boreal owls have been popping up in unexpected places.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Kodiak smashes temperature record with midweek heat wave
A mini-heat wave struck Kodiak on Tuesday, breaking a temperature record that had stood for 70 years since 1954.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Nearly 1,000 Gallons of Diesel Fuel Spills Near Yukon River
Around 1,000 gallons of diesel leaked from a Brice Inc. fuel truck near the Yukon River Campground on April 4, prompting Alaska tribes to demand accountability and DEC to oversee cleanup to prevent river contamination.
Yukon River Campground, Yukon Flats, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Early arrival of Swans
In Chistochina, Alaska, two swans were observed arriving unusually early, flying close to a house, highlighting a pattern of early swan arrivals in the region.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Luleå municipality closes the ice rink for the season
Luleå kommun has closed its ice rink for the season after observing a rapid melt that reduced the ice thickness by 15 centimeters over two days, raising serious safety concerns.
Luleå, Norrbotten, Sweden
Kuriren

Warning: Reports of Severe Storm in Nordland and Troms
A rare April storm in northern Norway produced wind gusts up to 35 m/s and waves as high as 13 meters, causing widespread disruption including road closures and suspended ferry services in Nordland and Troms.
Bodø, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Thermometer hits 18C in Southern Finland on Wednesday
A weather station in Vihti, Southern Finland recorded an unprecedented 18°C on Wednesday, marking the highest reading for this time of year in recorded Finnish history, though colder weather is forecast later in the week.
Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle News

Grindavík and Blue Lagoon Evacuated Following Latest Eruption
A volcanic eruption on the Sundhnúk crater range on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has forced evacuations at both Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon amid an intense earthquake swarm and significant magma movement.
Grindavík, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
Iceland Review

Magnitude 5.1 King Salmon Earthquake
The Alaska Earthquake Center reports a recent magnitude 5.1 earthquake south of King Salmon, highlighting seismic activity along a poorly understood fault.
King Salmon, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Thunder and Lightning Strike Across Southern Iceland
Capital area residents experienced an unexpected display of lightning followed by a powerful thunder clap as stormy conditions gripped southern Iceland.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Snow’s notable absence and welcome (and sometimes weird) presence
UAF Geophysical Institute space physicist Peter Delamere recently rode his fat-tire bike over frozen vegetation south of the Alaska Range until his tires finally bit snow a bit farther north.
Knik, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Danish find worries researchers: Asian fungus could take over Swedish forests
Researchers warn that the Asian edible fungus 'citronmussling' may spread in Swedish forests and outcompete native species.
Skåne, Skåne, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

March heat breaks records over a century old across Inland Northwest
A warm spell in March shattered long-standing temperature records across the Inland Northwest, with daily highs and minimums exceeding century-old benchmarks. A cooling weather pattern with rain is expected to follow the record-setting heat.
Post Falls, Idaho, United States
Spokesman.com

Snowstorm Slams Far East’s Kamchatka, Grounding Flights and Stranding Motorists
A powerful snowstorm battered Russia’s Far East Kamchatka Peninsula, grounding flights, stranding motorists, and triggering avalanche warnings in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
The Moscow Times

Pilot rescued with 2 girls from icy Kenai Peninsula lake was not authorized to have passengers, official says
It appeared that the plane had landed near a glacier on the partially frozen lake, broke through the ice as it rolled to a stop and then began to sink. It wasn’t known if the pilot landed intentionally on the lake thinking the ice was more solid than it was, or whether a mechanical issue forced the plane down.
Tustemena Lake, Alaska
Anchorage Daily News

'Feral, almost demonic': Surge in poisoned sea lions threatens SoCal beachgoers, burdens rescuers
Domoic acid poisoning is stranding marine mammals as warnings are issued to beachgoers of the threat posed by animals that are transformed by their illness.
Oxnard, California, United States
Los Angeles Times

16-year-old killed in Turnagain Pass avalanche
A 16-year-old snowmachiner from Soldotna was killed in an avalanche at Turnagain Pass, Alaska, highlighting the ongoing danger in the area due to unstable snowpack conditions.
Turnagain Pass, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Ketchikan responds to landslide that displaced hundreds Thursday
The City of Ketchikan is recovering from a rock slide Thursday morning that left hundreds of people displaced — no injuries or structural damage was reported, but the slide hit a road that connected the north and south areas of the island.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Earthquake Swarm Near Adak Includes Magnitude 6.2 Tremor
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southeast of Adak early Friday, part of a continuing swarm with several quakes measuring 4.0 or higher since Wednesday.
Adak, Alaska, United States

Lyngen: Survivor recounts being buried in an avalanche
A 39‐year‐old Slovenian man recounts his dramatic ordeal of being buried under snow for over 7 hours during an avalanche in Lyngen, while rescuers continue searching for a missing woman.
Lyngen, Nord-Troms, Norway
NRK

Helicopter caught in avalanche in Abisko – two persons missing
A rescue operation has been initiated after an avalanche dragged a helicopter that was on the ground in Abisko National Park, with two persons currently reported missing.
Abisko, Norrbotten, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Ketchikan landslide blocks roadway, closes schools
A large landslide just outside Ketchikan, Alaska, buried a road on Thursday, displacing hundreds and forcing school closures, though no injuries were reported.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Joey Klecka, Melissa Frey, Justin Mattson

This is why Canada has plenty of eggs and the U.S. doesn't
While the U.S. grapples with an egg shortage caused by avian flu, eggs remain plentiful and affordable in Canada. There are reasons for that, including that egg farms there tend to be smaller.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NPR

Warm Temperatures Bring Ice Melt and Flooding to Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region
Unseasonably warm weather triggered ice breakups and subsequent flooding in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, prompting emergency evacuations and road closures as rising water levels affected multiple rivers.
Chelyabinsk Region, Russia
The Moscow Times

Lack of Snow Prompts Early Start to Official Fire Season in Alaska's Southern Regions
Alaska state officials have advanced the start of the official fire season to March 17 in Southcentral, Southeast, and Western Alaska due to unusually low snowpack and warmer temperatures. The change aims to mitigate increased wildfire risks in these populated regions.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Early fire season begins with 2 small blazes reported and controlled
Two small wildfires on the Kenai Peninsula have been reported and quickly contained as the region enters an early fire season. Burn permits are now required on all state, private, and municipal lands due to early warm temperatures and low snowpack.
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Danger of Avalanches, Closed Roads, and Mild Weather Cause Traffic Trouble
Mild weather in Nordland, Norway, is causing hazardous road conditions with avalanche risks, road closures, and chain traffic, leading to significant travel disruptions including school bus delays.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Evacuation of Several Residents in Tromsø Due to High Avalanche Risk
Authorities in Troms have ordered the evacuation of 45 residential units in areas including Oldervik and Breivikeidet in Tromsø due to a significant avalanche risk, although some residents choose not to comply.
Tromsø, Troms og Finnmark, Norway

Orange warning for storm force in the mountains – dangerous avalanche situation in several places in the mountains
SMHI has upgraded the warning for storms in the northernmost mountains to an orange warning for strong winds and snow on the bare mountains, from Tuesday morning. Several places are also warned of dangerous conditions and a high risk of avalanches has been issued in the Abisko-Kebnekaise area.
Norrbottensfjällen Mountains
SVT Nyheter

Low Snow and Exposed Ice
There is unusually low snow coverage and exposed ice on the North Slope. The tundra lakes are more visible and sea ice is lower than normal.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

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