In the course of a couple days in Fairbanks, stunning light pillars were visible, followed by a rare red aurora.
Temperatures fell to -29.5°C in Vuotso, Sodankylä, the coldest reading so far this winter in Finland. Other Lapland sites also saw severe cold, and November is running much colder than normal.
Light pillars were recently observed over Dudinka, formed by light reflecting off tiny, horizontally oriented hexagonal ice crystals in very cold, calm, clear conditions. The observation was made at about −28°C.
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.
Bright aurora borealis displays lit up the sky over Juneau, Alaska, on Nov. 12, 2025, following a series of solar flares. Residents gathered at dark locations near Mendenhall Glacier and Lake to watch the northern lights.
A rare series of powerful X-class solar flares and “cannibal” coronal mass ejections produced vivid auroras visible as far south as the Florida Panhandle, with UAF scientists calling it one of the most significant events in years. The storm briefly disrupted monitoring systems and could generate more auroras for days.
Strong northwest winds are resuspending ash from the 1912 Novarupta-Katmai eruption, prompting an NWS Special Weather Statement for southern Kodiak Island and an aviation advisory up to 6,000 feet. Communities including Karluk, Akhiok, and Larsen Bay may see haze and trace ash; sensitive groups are advised to limit outdoor activity until winds ease Saturday.
Most domestic flights in Iceland were canceled due to weather, affecting about 700 passengers. Icelandair cited strong winds aloft causing turbulence and icing; only early flights to Akureyri and Bíldudalur operated, with conditions expected to improve by tonight or tomorrow.
Despite late-October rain, extreme drought has expanded across southern and coastal Maine, now covering nearly 43% of the state, including Portland. The National Weather Service says another foot of precipitation is needed before soils freeze to substantially ease conditions.
Iceland experienced intense cold overnight, with -19.8°C recorded at Sandskeið around 6 a.m., and meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson says it is likely the coldest 30 October on record. Reykjavík dropped to just over -8°C, and an Icelandic Met Office table showed -20.2°C at Setur south of Hofsjökull overnight.
Reykjavík recorded 27 cm of snow at 9:00 on October 28, likely the deepest October snow on record, surpassing the previous 15 cm set in 1921. Heavy snowfall and poor visibility were forecast on the Suðurnes/Reykjanesbraut corridor with 50–75 mm precipitation expected.
Norton Sound Health Corporation issued an air quality alert for Nome after PM10 levels exceeded 301 (hazardous) on Oct. 23. Officials cite recent freeze–thaw cycles and dry conditions for the unusual late-October dust; residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure and use N95 masks.
A Tennessee warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) was captured and identified at Mølen in Vestfold after Storm Amy, marking the first record for Scandinavia. Ornithologists believe it was carried across the Atlantic by strong jet streams; birders rushed from around Norway to see it, though it is unlikely to survive the Norwegian autumn.
Unseasonably warm October air is bringing temperatures up to 18°C in northeastern Iceland today, following peaks over 21°C in East Iceland yesterday, driven by a foehn effect. South to southwesterly winds and intermittent rain accompany the warmth, with the east and northeast remaining mostly bright.
Autumn is marked by delayed leaf fall and reduced rainfall, with temperatures higher than historical averages, suggesting potential climate shifts.
A temperature of 10.2°C was recorded Tuesday morning at Svalbard Airport, the warmest October reading since measurements began. Mild weather is reported around Longyearbyen.
Storm Amy brought hurricane-force gusts at sea and heavy rain to southern and central Sweden, prompting SMHI orange and yellow warnings, transport shutdowns, and widespread power outages. The storm followed severe impacts in Norway and is expected to ease after Sunday, though windy, rainy conditions will persist along the east coast.
Mowi Canada East reports 166,262 farmed salmon died at two sites near Chaleur Bay on Newfoundland’s south coast, blaming repeated sea lice infestations intensified by warm surface waters, low freshwater runoff, and calm winds. The incident follows earlier 2025 mass mortalities linked to a thermocline inversion and warm, low-oxygen conditions.
An out‑of‑control wildfire near Lake George in Kings County, Nova Scotia, surged from 2 to an estimated 300 hectares, prompting expanded evacuation orders around Lake George and Aylesford Lake. Strong winds drove rapid growth as crews deployed aircraft, helicopters, heavy equipment, and structure-protection sprinklers.
Smoke from Central Washington wildfires pushed into Spokane on Thursday, raising air quality to unhealthy for sensitive groups and likely lingering into Friday. Forecasters cited the Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf fires and gusty winds as primary drivers, with conditions expected to ease slightly Friday.
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