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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Ferries cancelled, flood watch issued as storm wallops B.C. South Coast
The storm pummeling much of B.C. incapacitated part of the ferry system and coated major highway passes and northern areas of the province in a heap of fresh snow.
Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CBC

Extreme Flooding
Jakarta, Indonesia
Twitter

Raining in January
Warm temperatures bring novel rain event in Northern Sweden.
Near Nedre Soppero, Sweden

New heat record again - 19 degrees on Sunndalsøra
A new heat record for January. Sunndalsøra in Nordmøre measured 19 plus degrees in the morning.
Sunndalsøra, Møre og Romsdal, Norway
NRK

‘Not ordinary rain’: Worst rainfall in over decade causes massive floods in Jakarta
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency recorded rainfall intensity on New Years Eve at 377 millimeters per day, according to an observation conducted at the Air Force air base in East Jakarta.
Jakarta, Indonesia
The Jakarta Post

Kangaroos (genus Macropus) Flee Bushfires
Mitchell Lyons captured video of a mob of kangaroos travelling at high speed to escape wildfires during the extreme 2019 Australian wildfire event.
New South Wales, Australia
Twitter

Australia bushfires trap thousands on east coast beaches
Residents fled toward the waterside as winds pushed an emergency-level wildfire towards their homes. The town was shrouded in darkness from the smoke before turning an unnerving shade of bright red.
Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia
The Globe and Mail

Anchorage breaks snow record for New Year’s Day following the warmest Dec. 31 on record
The snowfall came after Anchorage broke the daily record for warmest Dec. 31, with temperatures at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport measuring 46 degrees.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Mulchatna Caribou Hunt Closing On Federal Lands Amid Steep Population Decline
Midnight on Dec. 31 brings the close of 2019 and also the close of the hunting season for Mulchatna Caribou on federal lands. The federal season,
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Massive anchovy school in White Rock draws a crowd
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said photographer Marissa Baecker, who was visiting White Rock from Kelowna on Christmas Day. “It wasn’t just a feeding, it was a feast.”
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Anchovies take over White Rock shores
People in White Rock, B.C. are used to seeing fish in their waters but not quite like this.
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Facebook Watch

Holiday cold snap breaks records, may save Northwest Alaska snowmachine races
It’s a dramatic drop from this winter’s balmy start, but this is a normal weather pattern for this time of year.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Minus 65: Interior Alaska sees coldest official temperatures since 2012
An official temperature of minus 65 was recorded 15 miles northeast of Manley Hot Springs, according to the National Weather Service. It is the coldest official temperature in Alaska since
Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Thousands of 'sea pickles' wash up on Monterey Bay beach
Hundreds upon hundreds of specimens known as "sea pickles" washed up on Monterey Bay beaches on Thursday. As explained by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, "Big waves and strong currents are pushing pyrosomes onto local beaches.
Asilomar State Beach, Pacific Grove, California, United States
SFGate

Huge sea temperature anomaly has water six degrees above normal
Ocean temperatures as much as 6 degrees higher than usual are developing off the east coast.
South Pacific Ocean
Stuff

Boisterous bay
A winter storm combined with a 20.7-foot high tide hammered the north shore of Kachemak Bay last Thursday.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Mat-Su declares disaster after Willow Creek flooding forces evacuations, closes bridge
Flooding on Willow Creek Saturday night and Sunday has led to seven families being evacuated, with five people taking shelter at the Willow Community Center. The Willow Fire Department, Mat-Su Animal Care and the Mat-Su Water Rescue Team organized to assist those impacted by the flood.
Willow, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Russia’s warm winter has deprived Moscow of snow, caused plants to bloom and roused bears out of hibernation
Residents are lamenting a December without the constant layer of snow that defines Russian winters, when what little light there is typically reflects off the white covering and brightens the days.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
Washington Post

Confirmed extinction of the Chinese Paddlefish (Psephurus gladius)
Ivan Jaric Tweeted news of his published paper confirming the extinction of the Chinese Paddlefish (Psephurus gladius)
Yangtze River, China
Twitter

Record Christmas snow cover in Lapland
Powder on the ground is nearly one meter deep in some parts of Finland's northernmost region.
Inari, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

More than a dozen homes evacuated due to Willow Creek flooding; Mat-Su officials say bridge could be closed for days
The flooding started when large chunks of ice jammed at Deneki bridge, according to an advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
Willow, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Soil loss during high rainfall event
The following Tweet is an observation of soil erosion and loss from an agricultural field in rural England during a rainfall event. This was documented on Twitter by Dave Throup, Environment Agency Manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
General overviews of increasing rainfall and soil degradation in the UK are attached.
Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom

100 horses confirmed dead in storm
100 dead horses have been found following the major storm that hit Iceland last week. Some are still missing and the search continues. Some horses are known to remain in danger and vets say that farmers are exhausted.
Skagafjörður, Norðurland vestra, Iceland
RÚV

Buildings Disappears under Snow: "We’ve never before had snow on this scale"
The building, 30 feet to the gable, is buried in snow.
Hofsós, Northwest, Iceland
Electroverse

43,000 litres of milk went to waste in the storm
The severe storm that hit Iceland last week had a major impact on farmers—largely because of power cuts and closed roads. Dairy farmers could not milk their cows during power cuts, and they could not refrigerate the milk that had been collected before the power went off. MS Iceland Dairies received 43,000 fewer litres of milk from farms last week than the week before.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Nearly 20,000 non-native salmon escaped after fire at B.C. fish farm
One wild salmon advocate fears the non-native Atlantic salmon could spread sickness and compete for habitat with struggling wild salmon population.
Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia
British Columbia

The snow is low, but the ice is nice
What little snow has fallen in recent weeks has disappeared, leaving inviting surfaces and smooth terrain to explore.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Pod of Orca whales migrate more than 3,000 miles from Iceland to Italy
A pod of Orca whales has made an unprecedented trip from Iceland to more than 3,000 miles away in Genoa, Italy according to a nonprofit organization that tracks them.
Genoa, Liguria, Italy
ABC News

Winter storm cuts off power to over 50,000 homes
Gusty winds and precipitation began pounding Finland from the southwest on Wednesday morning.
Heinola, Päijänne Tavastia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Seabird Aggregation Over Abundant Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax)
Professor John Reynolds shared the following video of his observation of a large aggregation of gulls and other coastal seabirds over a large aggregation of Northern Anchovy at White Rock, BC.
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada

Deadliest storm in decades for Icelandic horses
Last week’s storm was the most fatal natural disaster to Iceland’s horses in decades. The situation was worst in Vestur- and Austur Húnavatnssýsla, but horses died elsewhere around the country as well.
Vesturland, Iceland
RÚV

Erosion Threatening Burial Site
A few years ago, people had to cover up parts of the burial site that were becoming exposed.
Wales, Alaska, United States
Racheal Lee, Max Neale, Erica Lujan, Tom Wolforth, Mike Brubaker, Michael Bruce, Debra Seetook, Vladimir Romanovsky, Louisa Castrodale

Ice balls spotted on island in Finland
Hundreds of ice balls could be seen floating on the beach at Ohtakari island in Finland’s Bay of Bothnia.
Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Car strikes large boulder on rockfall-prone stretch of Seward Highway
No one was injured when a car hit a 6-foot-by-8-foot rock that fell from cliffs next to the Seward Highway late Wednesday.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Where's the snow? Warm weather to keep most of Eaglecrest closed this weekend
Night-time temperatures have been cold enough for snow but the snow quickly melts by morning.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Too icy to ski right now? Not for Junior Nordic
Most of Anchorage is currently covered in ice, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to ski.
YouTube

K300 Season Opener Delayed Again
Poor trail conditions have pushed the Kuskokwim 300 Season Opener race back another week.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

For the first time, scientists have found a dangerous toxin from algae in the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea
Clams collected in late August had concentrations of saxitoxin considered dangerous for human consumption. The samples were collected in August about 70 miles north of St. Lawrence Island and about 50 miles north of Cape Lisburne, much further north than previously documented.
Cape Lisburne
ArcticToday

Kipnuk the latest village to flood as storms rile the ice-free Bering Sea
This has become the new norm across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Late winters and sudden thawing have turned roads into slush and made rivers and sloughs, which are necessary for travel, less safe because they take longer to freeze.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Mass Worm Stranding
"I saw thousands of these on Drakes Beach on Dec. 6, after the recent storm. What happened?" David Ford
Drakes Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
Bay Nature

Erosion of Burial Site
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Stay Off Straight Slough; Four Open Holes Near Bethel
Travelers need to stay off Straight Slough, which flows into the main Kuskokwim River near Bethel.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Thousands Without Power in North Iceland
A storm bringing hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions is raging across the country.
Sauðárkrókur, Northwest, Iceland
Iceland Review

2 rock slides close Seward Highway at miles 111 and 106.5
The highway closed after rocks covered the northbound lane at mile 111, near McHugh Creek. A second rock slide was reported near mile 106.5.

In Sweden's Arctic, ice atop snow leaves reindeer starving
Hiila Inga is concerned about the health of his reindeer. His community herds 8000 head each year, between traditional grazing lands in the mountain and the forests further east.
Kiruna, Norrbotten, Sweden
Associated Press

Thousands lose power from the Kenai Peninsula to the Mat-Su as winds ramp up
A wind gust of 113 mph was recorded Monday morning along the Seward Highway near Potter Marsh. Above-freezing temperatures are making side streets icy.

Man who found hiker trapped in Flattop Mountain avalanche said rescue was ‘a miracle’
After being buried, the trapped hiker was able to kick his legs free. A hiker passing by spotted his feet sticking out of the snow.

Alaska Cod Fishery Closes and Industry Braces for Ripple Effect
Gulf of Alaska cod have been in steep decline due to rising ocean temperatures. Now, for the first time ever, federal fisheries managers are shutting down the lucrative fishery because of low stock.
Gulf of Alaska
NPR

Flares used to scare away 63 polar bears besieging a remote Russian village
Amazing footage shows the bears just 150 metres from the nearest house as shooting is criticised - but does little to deter predators.
Siberia Times

Victoria Falls dries to a trickle after worst drought in a century
One of southern Africa’s biggest tourist attractions has seen an unprecedented decline this dry season, fuelling climate change fears
Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe
The Guardian

BC Hydro reservoirs see record low rain across Vancouver Island
An exceptionally dry November means that water levels are low in the hydro electric watersheds on Vancouver Island. The four reservoirs on the Island, located in Jordan River, Ash River, Puntledge River and Campbell River provide a third of Vancouver Island’s power supply.
Puntledge River, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News

Storms worsened during lifetime
*Dr. Brian Starzomski, Director & McTaggart Cowan Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, shared an observation by his father that coastal storms have worsened during his lifetime*
Ben Eoin, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dozens of polar bears stranded outside Russian Arctic village because of melting ice
Nearly 60 polar bears have been stranded on the Arctic coast near a remote village in Russia's Far East after warm winter weather hampered their hunting routine.
The Telegraph

December Heat Record Broken
December heat records were broken or equalled by at least 53 remote weather-monitoring stations and three manned stations in the first days of the month. The cause was a mass of warm air that moved across the country.
Iceland
Iceland Review

Municipal calls to boil drinking water more than double this year
The number of boil order advisories issued by Swedish municipalities have more than double this year compared to 2018, Swedish Radio reports.
Sweden
Radio Sweden

Ice Fog (Low Visibility) = Cancelled Flights
Open water over the ocean creates conditions that lead to hoar frost and rime ice. These conditions impact travel and are expected to become more common as ice forms later in Norton Sound.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Victoria broke its record for driest November in more than 25 years
November is typically the wettest and stormiest month of the year here on Vancouver Island, but not this year. If it seemed drier than usual, you would be right.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Island

Susitna Valley gets a dump of snow as winds sweep through Anchorage
While Anchorage was getting hammered by wind, snow was piling up in the Susitna Valley — with a whopping 4 feet of snow at Hatcher Pass, according to a rough estimate.

Rock slides prompt intermittent closures of Seward Highway south of Anchorage
Rockfall along the Seward Highway near Beluga Point has been happening since wind and rain battered the area earlier this week.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) North of Seasonal Range
The northernmost iNaturalist observation (November-March) of Black-crowned Night-Heron (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) in eastern North America.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Rare flock of birds spotted in Oak Bay
Lesser Goldfinch birds were seen munching on local greenery
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News

Icy Conditions Send Over Two Dozen to Emergency Room
Since yesterday evening, over two dozen people have visited the emergency room at the National University Hospital of Iceland owing to icy conditions in the Greater Reykjavík area.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

After months of drought, Chignik Lagoon's wells have finally filled with water
Over the summer, drought and damages to Chignik Lagoon’s water distribution system left the village without drinkable water. The state issued a boil water notice in July, and the wells were dry by August. Residents relied on Packers Creek to supplement their needs through October. Now those worries have subsided; at the end of October …
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Intensive rain flood and landslide
Storm event brought high winds and flooding and landslides to Ensenada.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Richard L Thoman Jr, María Félix-Lizárraga

'Funky' weather brings late harvest
It was out of habit that Rachel Kukull carried foraging tools while hiking through Chilkat State Park. The custom paid off when she spotted on the forest floor a flash of gold that made her scream. Chanterelles in November!
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Storm Brings Flooding in Newtok
A storm system during the last week of November brought high winds and seas to Newtok and other western Alaska communities.
Newtok, Alaska, United States
Jacqualine Schaeffer, David Beveridge, Brian Lefferts, Edward "Ted" Smith, Gavin Dixon

Big Winds Blowing in Norton Sound
Local reports on the big storm system hitting northern and western Alaska.
Golovin, Alaska, United States
Racheal Lee, Anahma Shannon, Mike Brubaker, Edward "Ted" Smith, Carol Oliver

IPN Virus Detected in East Iceland Fish Farm
It’s the first time that the virus has been detected in salmon in Iceland, though it was found in halibut in 1999. The virus poses no health risks to people.
Reyðarfjörður, East, Iceland

As reported Delta-area mountain lion sightings increase, wildlife managers search for evidence
Joel Holbrook wishes he had grabbed his camera after he and his wife spotted what they swear was a mountain lion near their home, which is located near the Bluff Cabin Trail. Officials have confirmed the presence of mountain lions in Southeast Alaska, but have yet to substantiate reports of animals roaming further north.
*LEO Network says, if you are looking for photo proof, check out the post from Willard Hand in Tazlina.*
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Alders (genus Alnus) Budding Out of Season
Warm temperatures are likely causing alders and other woody Alaskan plants to bud in fall and early winter. As winter sets in, the buds are damaged and the plants will produce fewer buds come spring.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Part of Key Largo has been underwater for months
The leaders of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties have all agreed that climate change is the ultimate culprit for the King Tide problem
Key Largo, Florida, United States

Winter Storm Batters Western Alaska Coast, Taking Out Power And Sea Ice
A big winter storm came in from the Bering Sea and battered the Western Alaska coast from the evening of Nov. 25 through Nov. 26. Some communities, like Hooper Bay, have reported flooding.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia) with Bill Abnormality
A thick-billed murre (*Uria lomvia*) was spotted with a bill abnormality that could be attributed to poxvirus or other virus, trauma, tumor, or congenital abnormality.
Devilfish Point, Unalaska Bay

Bad weather and road salt blamed for uncharged electric buses in Umea
Fredrik Dahlborg, manager of bus manufacturer VDL, told P4 Västerbotten that a combination of the weather and road salt is the problem. Despite this, Umeå municipality say they will keep using the electric buses.
Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Weather delays start of Baja 1000
Ensenada and the surrounding areas of the Northern part of the Baja California peninsula have been inundated with more than four inches of rainfall over the last three days which has forced us, in the interest of safety, to delay the start of the race by 24 hours,
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
RACER

Pallets in the marsh melt in warmer climates
Palsmyr is threatened by climate change. At Ferdesmyra in Finnmark, the characteristic ice-filled pals that protrude from the terrain will be gone in a few years.
Ferdesmyra, Norway
Miljødirektoratet/Norwegian Environment Agency

Tofino fish farms reporting mass die-offs due to harmful algae
Blooms are often associated with low dissolved oxygen events and warm ocean water temperatures and weather changes – all of which we are, or have been, experiencing," said Kiemele. Farm owner Cermaq says it has deployed fish protection countermeasures that have already caused conditions to improve.
Herbert Inlet, British Columbia, Canada
CTV News

Stillwright Point nears 80 days of flooding
Stillwright Point, Key Largo, Florida, United States
Keys News

Nearly 1,500 without power as storms roll through
Nearly 1,500 people throughout San Diego County are without power as winter storms sweep through the area.
San Diego, California, United States
KGTV

Utqiagvik celebrates first whale of season in November
It's been a challenging year for whalers in Utqiagvik. Crews started going out in September, but found the bowheads weren't appearing in their usual concentrations in the waters closer to shore. On the water Nov. 16 Panigiuq Crew landed the first whale of the season for Utqiagvik, later than many people can remember ever bringing one in before.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Dry Lake Now Wet
Clark Dry Lake

Sudden snowstorm snarled traffic, caused accidents in Kazakh capital
A severe and sudden snow storm caused traffic jams and road accidents. From Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 alone, more than 230 crashes occurred on the roads of Nur-Sultan, according to the city’s police department. Five people were injured in the accidents.
Nur-Sulta, Kazakhstan
The Astana Times

281 and counting: Well into fall, Hawaii is still setting record highs
From Jan. 1 through Friday, Hawaii has set or tied 281 record high temperatures at official Weather Service stations located at four island airports ― in Honolulu, Hilo, Lihue and Kahului.
Kahului, Hawaii, United States

Erosion threatens campsites at Nome River, Fort Davis
Severe erosion at the Nome River mouth has cost Rita Hukill and her family most of their land at their campsite at Fort Davis.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Settlement of Water Treatment Plant and Numerous Areas in Community
Ground settling is causing a wide range of impacts in Noatak, including to the water treatment plant. But are there benchmarks to monitor the changes in the water plant?
Noatak Alaska
John Warren, David Beveridge, Nellie Wesley, Vladimir Romanovsky, Brian Menghini, Paul Walton, Chris Dankmeyer, John Monville, Mike Brubaker

Rains erase last of ‘severe drought’ in Southeast as conditions improve statewide
Rains throughout October and November mean Southeast Alaska is finally out of “severe drought” status for the first time since September of 2018. Ketchikan, Wrangell and Juneau are still in “moderate drought.”Sitka, Hoonah and Haines remain “abnormally dry,” though not in drought.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Wildlife sat-nav goes awry as White Stork and Flamingo defy nature and fly to Siberia in winter
Frantic efforts to save the wrong-turn birds from harsh cold.
Barnaul, Altai Krai, Russia
Siberia Times

‘It was so unfazed by me’: Woman recounts slobber-covered cat’s encounter with wolverine
Lenny didn’t have a wound on him but hasn’t been the same since, his owner says.

Alaska’s feline Bigfoot? Mountain lion sightings reported in Delta Junction
Biologists say they’ve been unable to confirm several reported sightings, including one from a resident who’s sure a cougar showed up in his yard.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Whitehorse man warns others after falling through ice
The ice may look solid, but emergency officials are warning Yukoners to be wary. M.A. Chartrand learned that the hard way last week.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

It’s November, and Southcentral Alaska’s unusually warm fall has some plants putting out spring buds
As much of the Lower 48 braces for frigid weather, Anchorage-area temperatures have run some 13 degrees above normal so far this month.

Homer man survives bear attack
The man was walking his dogs on a well-used trail when he came across a sow with two cubs, a Fish and Game assistant area wildlife biologist said.
Homer, Alaska, United States

Utqiagvik whalers still hope to land a bowhead as season wanes
Aerial surveys this September and October show the bowheads aren’t where they usually are.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Beached "ice eggs" astound strollers on Finnish island
The oval ice formations created by wave action were piled up on a Hailuoto beach.
Hailuoto, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland

Bizarre ice balls found in Arctic Alaska river puzzle locals and scientists
Danny Foster and Mike Hawley of Kivalina were ice fishing outside of town when they came upon something they’d never seen before. Incidentally, similar ice balls or ice eggs were reported on an ocean beach in Finland on the same day.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

New pictures show how brown bears turn white ‘due to inbreeding’ on remote island
Researchers in Kurils Nature Reserve confirm no less than 10% of the bear population has a distinctive silver coat.
Kurilsky Nature Reserve
Siberia Times

Erosion of Russian Era Graves
Erosion of Russian era graves is a concern because of history with epidemic, and tribal office has to collect and rebury remains.
St. Michael, Alaska, United States
Michael Bruce, Michelle Snowball, Anahma Shannon, Tom Wolforth, Racheal Lee, Darlene Chiskok

Sizable Sea-Cliff Chunk Collapses into Ocean
“I could hardly believe my eyes,” said Ingólfur Sveinsson, resident of the Skagi peninsula.
Sauðárkrókur, Northwest, Iceland

Gravesite Sinking
Noatak site experiencing thawing and subsidence.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Paul Walton, Chris Dankmeyer, Tom Wolforth

Mergansers (Mergus merganser) on Cheney Lake
Mergansers (*Mergus merganser*) are not common visitors to Cheney Lake, but a flock of about a dozen showed up in early November.

Meshik Village Erosion and the End of Goldfish Lake
Gradual sea ice reduction and reconfiguration of the coast, have increased the rate of erosion near Port Heiden over the course of several decades. Draining of Goldfish Lake brings memories, loss of community landmark, and many emotions.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

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