The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

Fire and Rain - In July, communities across the Circumpolar North experienced a dynamic range of environmental events, notable wildfire, smoke, extreme rain, and flooding. Interestingly, some communities saw all of these events over just a matter of days! In Yakutia, the fire season began in early May and built through the spring and summer. By early July temperatures had reached the high 30s (90s in Fahrenheit) and dry conditions and gusty winds were feeding a growing number of wildfires. On July 10th, a wildfire state of emergency was declared in Yakutsk prompting a total ban on people entering forest areas, among other measures. Then just days later, the weather took a dramatic turn, drenching rains extinguished fires but also causing the water to rise along the Lena and Indigirka rivers. By the end of July flooding was affecting communities along several river systems. In Olekminsk, an apartment building was flooded along with dozens of other buildings. There were also floods in the Sakha and Tyumen regions in Russia, and in Alaska and the Yukon Territory and catastrophic wildfires in the Northwest Territories and Northern Ontario. Smoke from wildfires in Canada were seen as far away as Iceland. These events are thought to be driven by warmer than average temperatures this summer, and a strengthening global El Niño cycle. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Snow fell in July Hafjell, Innlandet, Norway Inger Sofie Syrrist Østby / NRK Innlandet / July 7, 2026 Tourists at Hafjell in Innlandet woke up to a white landscape after snow fell in July, an unusual event for the area. The brief snowfall disrupted planned cycling trips, but hotel staff said most guests saw it as a special experience. Read article on NRK Innlandet
	Yamal Defends Against Wildfire: 30 Forest Fires Are Being Extinguished in the Region Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia Наталья Курышева / Ямал-Медиа / July 27, 2026 Firefighters and rescue crews in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug are battling 30 active forest fires across five districts. More than 500 personnel are working to contain the blazes, which have already burned nearly 8,000 hectares. Read article on Ямал-Медиа
	Record Number of Polar Bear Visits on Eider Duck Islets in Kongsfjorden Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norway Anna Stjern / Svalbardposten / July 9, 2026 Researchers recorded unusually many polar bear visits this summer on small islands where eider ducks nest in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. The increased bear activity is bad news for the birdlife. Read article on Svalbardposten
	Fort Smith herring gull found with bird flu Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada CBC News / July 9, 2026 A herring gull in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, has tested positive for bird flu, the 16th confirmed case in the territory since 2022. Officials are urging residents to avoid sick or strangely behaving birds and to take precautions when handling wild birds. Read article on CBC News
	Yakutsk declares state of emergency due to extreme fire danger Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia Yakutia.Info / Yakutia.Info / July 10, 2026 Yakutsk has declared a regional state of emergency because of very high wildfire danger and worsening forest fire conditions. Officials have banned forest access, open flames, and burning debris as hot, dry weather and gusty winds raise the risk of new fires. Read article on Yakutia.Info
	Severe Impact on Train Traffic - Reduced Speeds on Several Sections Säffle and Åmål, Värmland County, Sweden Nora Holand; Oscar Söderman / SVT Nyheter / July 16, 2026 Hot weather in Sweden has increased the risk of sun kinks in railway tracks, forcing reduced train speeds on several sections and a temporary stop between Säffle and Åmål. Traffic authorities say the restrictions will likely continue as long as the heat persists. Read article on SVT Nyheter
	Four whales found stranded in Kodiak this week Surfers Beach, Kodiak Katherine Irving / KMXT / July 17, 2026 Local scientists aren't sure yet what caused these whales' deaths. At least three out of the four are gray whales. Read article on KMXT
	Frost Has Damaged Cloudberries Tana, Troms og Finnmark, Norway Anne Ragnhild Porsanger / NRK Sápmi / July 22, 2026 Cold temperatures in Tana and parts of Finnmark have damaged cloudberries, leaving some berry patches looking frozen and spoiled. A researcher says the berries may still be edible, but the frost has reduced the quality and likely the harvest. Read article on NRK Sápmi
	Heavy, Prolonged Rain Triggers Flood Watches for Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula Anchorage, Alaska, United States Anchorage Daily News / July 20, 2026 Heavy rain across Southcentral Alaska prompted flood watches for Anchorage, Eagle River, and much of the Kenai Peninsula. Forecasters warned of ponding on roads, localized urban flooding, rising creeks and streams, and possible rockfall along the Seward Highway. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Rail Worker Captures Harrowing Video as Wildfire Closes In on CN Train Northern Ontario, Ontario, Canada Luca Caruso-Moro / CTVNews / July 15, 2026 A rail worker filmed a CN train as a wildfire burned dangerously close to the tracks in Northern Ontario. CN said everyone on board made it out safely. Read article on CTVNews
	Meteorologist: Haze likely caused by Canadian wildfire smoke Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland Iceland Monitor / July 24, 2026 A haze over the Reykjavík capital area on Friday evening was likely caused by smoke from ongoing wildfires in Canada, according to meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson. Air quality monitors in southwest Iceland showed elevated fine particulate matter levels. Read article on Iceland Monitor
	Yakutia is struggling with floods Кыллах, Олекминский район, Sakha, Russia Известия / July 20, 2026 A difficult flood situation persists in Yakutia. The water level on the rivers of the republic is rising. According to the Regional Rescue Service, the most difficult situation is on the Lena River coast, where the water level has exceeded the critical mark. An apartment building was flooded in the city of Olekminsk, and water reached 32 more buildings. In the village of Kyllakh, the water level is close to critical. Read article on Известия
	41 Homes Flooded in Dulgalah, Verkhoyansky District Dulgalah, Verkhoyansky District, Sakha Republic, Russia Yakutia.Info / Yakutia.Info / July 29, 2026 Floodwaters entered Dulgalah village in Yakutia’s Verkhoyansky District, inundating 76 yards and 41 homes. Authorities have sent humanitarian aid and a government delegation to assess the damage and support residents. Read article on Yakutia.Info

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate-change related events.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
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