Strong winds in Portage, Alaska destroyed a deer shelter at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, used for Sitka deer. Fundraising efforts to rebuild have nearly met the $30,000 goal.

Oil from damaged Russian tankers has contaminated beaches in Crimea, with significant environmental cleanup efforts underway.

Just under 2 inches of new snow fell the entire month, making it one of the least snowy on record. Last season was the second snowiest on record. The winter of 2011-12 set the record for the city’s snowiest. A few winters later, Kutz said, “we dropped down to minimum snow.”