Above-zero temperatures are rapidly melting the snow cover in Luleå, prompting questions about the future of winter.

The 90th annual Fur Rendezvous Festival kicked off Thursday around Anchorage and is expected to feature its traditional late-winter celebration, despite a winter season marred by low snowfall.

Early sightings of migratory birds in southwest Finland, including bean and greylag geese, suggest milder winter conditions and highlight the impact of climate change on traditional migratory patterns.