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

Alaska heat wave: Anchorage sets record for most consecutive 70-degree days
On Monday, Anchorage reached the 70-degree threshold for a record 14th straight day, breaking 2004's record of 13.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Washington Post

Heat illness
7-22-13 Heat illness - Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, USA

Unusual Lightning
Residents were amazed to see lightning actually arching down to the ground.
Atqasuk, Alaska, United States

Extreme Temperatures
6-19-13 Extreme temperature Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Extreme Heat
6-18-13 Extreme heat - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Heatwave has toddlers falling from windows
The Anchorage Police Department is warning parents to be cautious after three separate incidents in a week involving toddler-aged children falling out of windows opened in the warm weather.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Poor Sea Ice - Our Sea Garden
The sea is our garden for food and other things.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Late Winter Storm
We are having an unseasonable snow storm in southcentral Alaska.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Herders caught between cashmere and climate change
Batogoo Dorj is a nomad in southern Mongolia’s Bayankhongor Region who makes his living raising cashmere goats. Each spring, Dorj can shear about 300 grams of the valuable, downy wool from each of his 350 goats. Those voracious and sharp-hoofed animals are contributing to the desertification and climate change that is reducing Mongolia’s available grazing land.
Баянхонгор, Bayanhongor, Mongolia
The UB Post

Storm Disrupts Transportation
Severe storms wreak havoc to a Bering Sea community; the following weather conditions contributed to flooding, disrupting transportation routes, electrical transformers and seepage into local water wells.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Drivers battle wet, icy roads and floods
Much of the state became one heck of an ice rink over the weekend, with temperatures spiking into the 40s in much of Southcentral Alaska and thawing reported as far north as Fairbanks.
Alaska Dispatch

Windy winter good for wind generation
Fire Island is producing more than expected for this time of year according to Ethan Schutt, senior vice president of land and development for Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) the Alaska Native corporation that operates the wind farm. So far about 17,000 megawatt hours have been produced, enough to power roughly 6,500 Southcentral homes each month.
Alaska Dispatch

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
CBC News

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

Brace yourselves, winter is coming
This summer has been one of the rainiest Ulaanbaatar has ever experienced, leaving behind puddles of water that result in cracked and deteriorated roads.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The UB Post

Extreme Rain and Flooding
It has been raining nonstop the entire month of August
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Bird experts aflutter over drop in rufous hummingbird numbers
The number of rufous hummingbirds visiting southern Vancouver Island over the summer is dropping and the cause may be climate change, says a local bird expert.
Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Unseasonably Warm
4-25-12 Unseasonably warm - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

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?
Anchorage Daily News

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

Wildfires burn in the Cariboo
Alexandria, British Columbia, Canada

Permafrost Thaw Threatens Ice Cellars
Arctic food storage system at risk.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
Jacob Bell, Ryan Brubaker, Mike Brubaker

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
Iceland Review

Worst blizzard in years blasts Saskatchewan
Blizzard conditions paralyzed Saskatoon and many other communities Wednesday as a fierce storm scoured the central part of the province, closing roads, airports and schools.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
CBC

Rain falls at Greenland ice summit for first time on record
Rain fell at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet last week for the first time on record, another worrying sign of warming for the ice sheet already melting at an increasing rate, scientists said on Friday.
Summit Camp
Reuters

Climate change: Lapland reindeer gone astray in search for food
Herders are struggling to find thousands of reindeer that have run away in search of food. "We are driving for hours and hours to locate our reindeers and to herd them back, but it has been very difficult in these wintry conditions. So, we are also using helicopters and this is very unusual - and very expensive too."
Muonio, Lapland, Finland
BBC News

Palmer digs out from major windstorm that prompted emergency declaration
Gusts over 80 mph pummeled the city, compacting snow and causing power outages for thousands. Nearly 20,000 Matanuska Electric Association members lost power Friday morning. On Point MacKenzie west of Wasilla, crews faced snow drifts so large that they needed snowmachines and snowshoes to reach areas where repairs were needed.
Palmer, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

194 killed in Kenya floods
Nairobi, May 6
Floods and landslides in Kenya have killed nearly 200 people, displaced 1,00,000 and strained critical infrastructure, with unprecedentedly high water levels at two dams forcing the ev
Kenya
Tribuneindia News Service

Quebec City rationing drinking water use after dry, hot August
Labeaume said there is less than a month’s worth of reserves left, which he called “concerning,” and it’s expected the current heat warning will stay in place for another few days, exacerbating the situation.
Québec, Quebec, Canada
CBC

Fiona's aftermath in Port aux Basques: 'It looks like a bomb went off'
'We did what we could to prepare, and still, we were underprepared'. Harvey’s assessment is much uglier in the daylight. Much of the town looks like it took a point-blank blast from an army tank. The photos do little to capture the sheer shock of local residents, especially those who lost their homes. Some are a bit more stoic than others, focused on rebuilding. Others are understandably much more raw and emotional, dissolving into tears while passerby rush to comfort them.
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Saltwire.com

Canada's AG warns Nunavut about dangers of not having a climate change action plan
Nunavut is not prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change and doesn't have a plan to deal with them, according to the latest report by Canada's auditor general.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC News

High winds cause Alaska Airlines jet to slide on icy Dillingham runway
On Sunday, a gust of wind unexpectedly hit an Alaska Airlines jet on the Dillingham runway as it was preparing to taxi from the terminal, causing it to slide on the icy tarmac.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times

Kuskokwim Chums Still At Record Low, Reds Coming In Strong, Weather Makes Drying Fish Difficult
Kuskokwim River chum salmon numbers remain off-the-charts low. However, sockeyes are still coming in strong. Meanwhile, the summer rain has not been
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Drivers in Scotland warned due to more downpours and floods
A yellow warning remains in place after torrential rain closed railway lines and flooded streets on Saturday.
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Climate change turns Alaska, and the rest of the nation, into a land of extremes
I'm going to start by challenging myself to have more proactive conversations with my teens about climate change, and set some house rules about energy use and what we can do as individuals to reduce our consumption of things like plastics. I don't think it will stop glaciers from melting, but perhaps it will help us all prepare to take larger actions that will.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

High winds knock out power, bring subzero wind chills to Bristol Bay
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
The Bristol Bay Times

Storm 'Hans' batters Scandinavia
Severe weather has knocked out power lines, flooded villages and brought public transport to a standstill in the worst-affected areas. On Monday, the storm derailed a Swedish passenger train, injuring three people.
Bagn, Oppland, Norway
dw.com

Heat wave over Gujarat, temp peaks at 43.8
"Besides Surendranagar — that recorded a temperature of over 43 degree celsius on Monday — Rajkot recorded 43.3 degree celsius, followed by Kandla Airport (43.2), Amreli (43), Deesa (42.8), Kandla Port (42.7), Ahmedabad (42.5), Porbandar (42.4), Bhuj (42.4), Vadodara (42.2), Gandhinagar (41.6), Surat (41.8), Bhavnagar (41.1) and Veraval (40.9)."
Gujarat, India

Tent Caterpillar Infestation
At one point our entire red brick house was covered in the black caterpillars trying to reach the adjacent forest. The silk web-like nests began to appear on our trees in May and within weeks, the forests foliage was decimated.
Woodford, Ontario

'We have nowhere': B.C. First Nations, rural residents say storm permanently changed the land
"For our grandchildren and their children, now the devastation has left them nothing": Shackan First Nation Chief Arnold Lampreau.
Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun

Avalanche leaves up to 80 feet of snow on upper Hiland Road in Eagle River but no homes hit
About 145 customers in the area were without power on Friday due to damaged equipment, according to Matanuska Electric Association. It’ll likely be at least several days before the road may be cleared.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Anchorage’s shift from drought to an onslaught of rain brings ‘weather whiplash extraordinaire’
And the rain is likely here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

Hurricane Laura hitting Louisiana as strong as 1856 storm that split Last Island in half: 'Only 1 cow remained'
The NHC said that the eye of Laura will continue moving over southwestern Louisana and warned of a 'catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding'
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
MEAWW

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut
A buildup of snow is hampering the hamlet's ability to deliver municipal services, like snow clearing and trucked water.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Growing sense of dread among Swedish farmers as dry weather continues
I am sad to see the crops on my fields being just brown and yellow instead of green. All the hard work we did this spring, it's almost for nothing..." dairy farmer Filip Nilsson told Radio Sweden.
Sweden

Fire bans in force across large parts of Sweden
Sweden has implemented fire bans across most of the country due to high, very high, or extremely high risk of wildfires caused by hot weather and dry conditions.
Sweden
Sveriges Radio

North Slope facilities close as the region is battered by wind gusts
North Slope facilities in Alaska closed due to severe blizzard conditions with winds up to 75 mph and low visibility.
North Slope, Alaska, United States

Destructive tornadoes unheard of in Alaska, but funnel clouds occasionally form
FAIRBANKS — Alaska is a long way from Tornado Alley. Never have there been reports of tornadoes causing damage in the 49th State. But we do sporadically get a related
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Hurricane Fiona: Canada hit by 'historic, extreme event'
Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power, after Storm Fiona hit Canada's coastline. Parts of three provinces experienced torrential rain and winds of up to 160km/h (99mph), with trees and powerlines felled and houses washed into the sea.
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
BBC News

Poor weather leads to cancelled flights and bare shelves in Kimmirut
Regular flights to Kimmirut resumed Wednesday after seven days of cancellations, which caused a backlog of passengers and groceries destined for the hamlet. Seven other Nunavut hamlets have also seen recent cancellations due to weather.
Kimmirut, Nunavut, Canada

Up to a foot of snow could fall on Anchorage Hillside through Friday morning
Snowfall amounts in the Anchorage Bowl could range from 3 inches on the east side to nothing on the west side, the Weather Service said.

As some in wind-blasted Mat-Su finally get power, others continue to contend with bursting pipes and frigid cold
Mat-Su schools will be closed again Wednesday, and 5,000 homes remained without electricity Tuesday night after a violent windstorm hammered the Valley.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Tornado damages houses, causes power outages in Fort St. John
"I've worked forecast in this area for 33 years. It's very rare. I don't remember any community in B.C. having that much damage from a tornado in my career or in the Peace," said meteorologist Doug Lundquist.
Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada

Nunavut monsoon in southern Baffin Island could break records, say experts
The weather is a result of a low-pressure system from the East Coast heading northward from Labrador, fueled by the moisture in the Atlantic Ocean.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Winds knock out internet for days
High winds at the Muklung tower blew the antenna pointing at Levelock out of alignment. It was too windy for the technicians to fly back to finish repairs at the Muklung site on Thursday. On Friday, the cooperative said they were able to reach the site, but the winds were still too strong for them to climb the tower to fix the antenna.
Levelock, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times

Heavy snow in Interior Alaska this winter has bison hanging out on plowed roads and digging up farmland
Bulldozer crews have cleared trails and fields for the bison in hopes of reducing the danger of collisions and damaged fields. There's a layer of ice up to two inches thick within the snowpack that has further complicated foraging.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Bizarre sight over Sydney stuns onlookers: 'What is it?'
Wild theories emerged online about what the strange mass could be. Scientist believe the mass was in fact a scud cloud, a type of cloud that appears at low height above ground. It's usually detached and of irregular form.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Yahoo News

Miami is shattering heat records during a wildly-warm start to 2020, even by Florida standards
"Miami’s temperature climbed to 95 on Friday, at a time of year when average highs are 83."
Miami, Florida, United States
Washington Post

Record heatwave retreating next week
Finland’s sizzling temperatures will drop down to around 20 degrees Celsius next week.
Kouvola, Kymenlaakso, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Winter storm lashes East Coast with deep snow, high winds
Parts of 10 states and some major population centers — including Philadelphia, New York and Boston — were pummeled by the storm.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Associate Press

Potholes leave Skye A-road 'like farm track'
The rutted stretch between Portree and north-west Skye has numerous potholes due to cold and wet weather.
Portree, Scotland, United Kingdom

Elsa Spreading Heavy Rain From the Southeast Into the Mid-Atlantic; Tropical Storm Warnings Extend Into the Northeast
The system became Tropical Storm Elsa on July 1, the earliest forming fifth named Atlantic storm on record in the satellite era (since 1966). The old record was, which developed a year ago on the evening of July 5.
Brigantine, New Jersey, United States
The Weather Channel

Storm Malik and Corrie: Thousands of homes without power after weekend storms
Gusts of up to 85mph were recorded in parts of Scotland as Storm Malik swept across the country.
Saint Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

Heavy rain lashes Himachal, 272 roads blocked
Tribune News ServiceShimla, August 27
Heavy rain lashed several parts of the state, triggering landslides that blocked 272 roads and disrupting normal life. The Met office has forecast heavy rain in
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tribuneindia News Service

Reports from the land: N.W.T. hunters and trappers describe unusually warm fall
From the thickness of the ice to moose migration and pelt quality, hunters and trappers say the late arrival of cold weather in the N.W.T. is "going to have effects, down the line."
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Anchorage sees wettest first half of August ever recorded
Nearly 4 inches of rain has already fallen at Ted Stevens, with more rain on the way.

Support

Observation Template