LEO Network

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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

Red aurora over Selfoss
A vivid red aurora was photographed over Selfoss around 2 a.m., a rare display caused by oxygen emissions high in the atmosphere. Photos also showed green fringes, with purple and pink hues possible when nitrogen is involved.
Selfoss, Southern Region, Iceland
Morgunblaðið (mbl.is)

Glacier retreated about 200 meters
Vestari Hagafellsjökull, on the south side of Langjökull, has retreated about 200 meters since 2023, according to a preliminary glacier-terminus survey conducted on 20 September 2025. Since 2009 the glacier has receded roughly 973 meters through 2023, with accelerated retreat likely tied to this summer’s warmth.
Langjökull, Southern Region, Iceland
mbl.is

Farmed Salmon Caught in Iceland’s Blanda River
An angler caught a farmed Atlantic salmon in the Blanda River, North Iceland, renewing concerns about escapes and hybridization with wild stocks. Local monitors report over 7% hybrids among juveniles in a key fishing zone following earlier sea-pen damage.
Blanda River, Northwestern Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Road under water: Dozens of tourists assisted
Rescue teams assisted dozens of travelers in the Fjallabak/Landmannalaugar highlands as heavy rain and high water submerged roads. Advisories to avoid the area appear to have worked, with few vehicles present and all travelers getting through safely.
Landmannalaugar, Southern Region, Iceland
mbl.is

Feared that another house will be washed out to sea
A sheep house east of Vík í Mýrdal was washed out to sea amid heavy surf, and rescuers fear a nearby horse stable could be lost at the next high tide as winds strengthen. No animals were inside; valuables were cleared and yellow weather warnings are in effect for South and Southeast Iceland.
Vík í Mýrdal, South Iceland, Iceland
mbl.is

Rock fell again onto the road where a fatal accident occurred
A rockfall struck Suðurlandsvegur at Holtsnúp under Eyjafjöll on August 17 at the same spot where a fatal accident occurred in March, prompting calls for urgent safety upgrades on this stretch of the South Coast Road.
Holtsnúp, Southern Region, Iceland

Earthquake near Langjökull: “This is the largest since 2007”
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck northeast of Langjökull near Djöflasandur this morning, marking the strongest quake in the area since November 2007.
Langjökull, Iceland
Vísir

Warning about dead pigeons in Vestmannaeyjar
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority warns of an unusually high number of dead pigeons in Vestmannaeyjar and urges the public to avoid handling sick or dead birds without proper precautions.
Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Morgunblaðið

Another whale swims close to Reynisfjara
RÚV received a video this week that shows a whale just off the beach at Reynisfjara; the second time in about a week. Guðjón Már Sigurðsson, marine biologist and cetacean expert at the Icelandic Marine Research Institute, says the whale swims shallow in a search for food.
Vik, South, Iceland
RÚV

Glacial flooding continues in the Grímsvötn area
The flooding started yesterday in the Grímsvötn volcano area. The water flow at the source of the discharge reaches 300 cubic metres per second. The jökulhlaup is expected to last about 24 hours, which is how long the water takes to get to the Gígjukvísl canal on Road 1.
RÚV

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

Glacial Outburst Flood Will Likely Peak on Sunday
The glacial outburst flood, or jökulhlaup, which started when the ice sheet in the Grímsvötn volcano beneath Vatnajökull glacier began to melt 11 days ago, is predicted to reach its peak on Sunday. At time of writing, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration does not believe that the runoff will affect traffic on Route 1 […]
Iceland Review

Southern potato farmers despair
The wet weather this summer and autumn in southwest Iceland is causing a major headache for the region’s potato farmers. Þykkvibær, one of the country’s best-known potato producers, is suffering a mould outbreak in its potato beds for the first time in 20 years and the soil is too wet for harvesting machines to get to work.
Þykkvibaer, South, Iceland

Puffins bounce back in spectacular style
The heaviest puffling (baby puffin) ever recorded in Iceland was weighed by scientists in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago recently, and the director of the South Iceland Natural History Institute believes the puffin stock overall may never have been bigger than now. The news comes after many failed breeding seasons since 2000 and worries for the species’ future.
Vestmannaeyjar, South, Iceland

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

Surprise flood kills salmon in West Iceland
A jökulhlaup flood struck West Iceland’s Hvítá river in the early hours of Tuesday morning when water from a lagoon by the Langjökull glacier suddenly broke a new path and flowed in a different direction. Thick glacial mud now coats the river banks, and much of Borgarfjörður fjord.

Mystery oil coating Westman Islands seabirds
Several dozen oil-covered seabirds have been discovered on the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago in recent days and weeks. The environment agency website states that most of the birds were found around the harbour on Heimaey and on Klauf beach. Oiled birds were first noticed as long ago as the start of this year.
Vestmannaeyjar, South, Iceland

50 percent more baby puffins this year
The puffling season is at its height and locals and visitors are busy helping lost baby puffins out to sea.
Vestmannaeyjar, South, Iceland

Puffins Numbers High in Westman Islands
A total of 78% of puffin nests on the islands were occupied in a recent survey. Puffins have been hard hit in recent years due to a diminished food supply. It remains to be seen how successful the breeding season will be.

Plover, Bearer of Spring, Has Arrived
A golden plover, traditionally believed to announce the arrival of spring in Iceland, was spotted in Stokkseyri on March 28, a little later than usual. They spends the winter as far south as North Africa, returning north to breed.
Stokkseyri, South Iceland

Tornado strikes Icelandic farm
A large 4x4 with trailer was found overturned in a ditch, fencing had been flattened, and roof panels from seven buildings were found 100 metres away from their roofs when the family returned to Norðurhjáleiga farm.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur, South, Iceland

Rockfall on Reynisfjara Back Sand Beach
Warming temperatures have caused large stones to break off the cliff at Reynisfjara beach, South Iceland.
Mýrdalshreppur, Suðurland, Iceland

Coldest January In Decades
The average temperature in Iceland this January was colder than it has been in the last decade.
Iceland

Invasive species are still rare in the Arctic — but that could soon change
Environmental and economic changes could make it easier for non-native plants and animals to gain a foothold in the North.
Katla Volcano, South, Iceland
Arctic Now

Global Warming Might Cause Increased Volcanic Activity in Iceland
When glaciers covered larger parts of Iceland, there was less volcanic activity in the country, a new study has found.

Poisonous Mushroom in Iceland
It has recently been confirmed that a poisonous mushroom, by the name of Steinkrympill has found its way to Iceland.
Laugarvatn, South, Iceland

Photo series shows glacier disappear
A series of photos, taken by Guðmundur Ögmundsson, Skaftafell National Park manager in the past five years, shows in a striking way how Skaftafellsjökull glacier, an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull glacier, has receded.
Kálfafell, Iceland

Tornado spotted in south Iceland
A tornado, which is a very rare sight in Iceland, was spotted on Skeidarársandur plane of sand in south Iceland of Friday. The tornado touched the ground for about five minutes and whirled up sand and dust.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur, South, Iceland

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