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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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Rare recreational opening on Lower Fraser due to huge sockeye run
Fisheries and Oceans Canada authorized a rare recreational sockeye opening in the non-tidal Fraser River from Mission to Hope (Aug. 22–Sept. 1, 2025) after unexpectedly large sockeye returns; retention is two sockeye per day and four pinks per day, with restrictions to avoid impacts on non-target stocks.
Lower Fraser River (Mission to Hope), British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette (Black Press Media)

Hail, wind left 200-km 'scar' across Alberta that's visible from space
An Aug. 20, 2025 hail and wind storm carved a 15-km-wide, 200-km-long “hail scar” across southern Alberta, visible in NASA satellite imagery. The storm devastated about 425,000 acres of crops and grassland, with severe impacts near Brooks, and recovery may take a year or more.
Brooks, Alberta, Canada
CBC News

Trail of destruction in Brooks, Alta., after golf ball-sized hailstorm rips through
A fast-moving supercell brought golf ball-sized hail and 113 km/h winds to Brooks, Alberta, toppling power lines, damaging homes, vehicles and crops, and killing two animals at a local fun farm. Cleanup continued Thursday as highways were disrupted and about 1,000 customers remained without power.
Brooks, Alberta, Canada
CBC News

Emma was on the fast ferry that hit the whale: "Terrible to see"
A passenger, Emma, says a routine fast-ferry trip near Hammerfest turned dramatic when the vessel struck a whale; the whale was visibly injured with blood in the water.
Hammerfest, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Nordlys

Fast-spreading fungus deadly to endangered butternut trees attacking 3 areas of P.E.I.
Butternut canker, a fast‑spreading fungal disease with no known cure, has been detected in multiple locations on Prince Edward Island; Islanders are urged to take precautions to limit spread.
Charlottetown and Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada
CBC News
Delaney Kelly (with files from Jackie Sharkey)

Bat as tourist in Sisimiut
Users at the Sanaluttarfik workshop in Sisimiut found an unexpected visitor after a cruise-ship group left: a bat. The bat spent a night in the workshop and was later thrown away after staff discovered lice in its fur.
Sisimiut, Qeqqata, Greenland
Sermitsiaq

Rock fell again onto the road where a fatal accident occurred
A rockfall struck Suðurlandsvegur at Holtsnúp under Eyjafjöll on August 17 at the same spot where a fatal accident occurred in March, prompting calls for urgent safety upgrades on this stretch of the South Coast Road.
Holtsnúp, Southern Region, Iceland
mbl.is

Earthquake near Langjökull: “This is the largest since 2007”
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck northeast of Langjökull near Djöflasandur this morning, marking the strongest quake in the area since November 2007.
Langjökull, Iceland
Vísir

Four wildfires are currently active in Yakutia
Firefighters extinguished one 17 ha wildfire in Vilyuysky District over the past day, while aerial monitoring detected another 1 ha fire in Olekminsky District; four fires remain active across three districts covering 711 ha.
Sakha Republic, Russia
Yakutia.Info

Century’s Heat Record Broken
A temperature of 29.8 °C was recorded at Egilsstaðir Airport on August 16, 2025, marking the highest August temperature measured in Iceland this century.
Egilsstaðir, Eastern Region, Iceland
Vísir

Pakistan’s monsoon flooding death toll rises to 220 as forecasters warn of more rain to come
Pakistan has experienced higher-than-normal monsoon rainfall, likely linked to climate change, which has triggered floods and mudslides. Hundreds of rescue workers were still searching for survivors in Buner.
Muzaffarābād, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Anchorage Daily News

Despair over sick and dead birds – call for gull patrol
Residents in Tromsø find sick and dead seagulls after avian influenza detection and urge the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to deploy a weekend gull watch.
Tromsø, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
itromso.no

Call to Stockholm residents: Save tap water
Stockholm Vatten och Avfall warns that unusually high water temperatures in Lake Mälaren have strained water production, urging residents and businesses across multiple municipalities to conserve tap water immediately.
Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Low Water Levels in the Mackenzie River
Unusually low waters in the Mackenzie River during late summer 2025, disrupting traditional and commercial river transport and indicating a shift from riverbed to riparian areas.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada

Three caravans destroyed by wind on Holtavörðuheiði
Severe winds on the Holtavörðuheiði pass in Húnaþing Vestra, Iceland, blew apart three caravans, prompting a multi-hour rescue response by the Húnar Hvammstanga search and rescue team.
Holtavörðuheiði, Húnaþing Vestra, Iceland
Vísir

As a mountain crumbled Sunday, Alaska experienced its largest landslide-caused tsunami in a decade
Seismic stations more than 600 miles away picked up the rumbling as a mountainside collapsed upon South Sawyer Glacier and into the ocean at the head of Tracy Arm.
Tracy Arm, Alaska
Anchorage Daily News

Dead Reindeer Found Near Lapland Border – Preliminary Study Points to Poisoning or Bacteria
Several dead reindeer carcasses were discovered on the Puutosuo mire in North Ostrobothnia following a heatwave, and water samples showed tenfold elevated intestinal bacterial levels, suggesting possible poisoning or bacterial contamination.
Puutosuo, North Ostrobothnia, Finland
Lapin Kansa

Dead bison in N.W.T.'s North Slave region might have had anthrax
Crews plan to burn a bison carcass suspected of anthrax on Highway 3 between Fort Providence and Behchokǫ̀ this weekend, with lab results pending; drivers are warned of smoke and reduced visibility.
North Slave Region, Northwest Territories, Canada

Over 400 lightning strikes: 'Unusually heavy precipitation'
Over 400 lightning strikes were recorded in a powerful thunderstorm across southwest Iceland, with roughly half on land and heavy rainfall of 10–15 mm per hour.
Suðvesturland, Iceland
mbl.is

Evacuation order lifted for St. John's suburb; wildfire destroys Newfoundland school
Residents of Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador, were allowed to return home on August 15 after an evacuation order due to the Paddy’s Pond wildfire was lifted, even as the fire continued to burn and other wildfires raged across Atlantic Canada.
Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CTV News

Water Damage at Kjarvalsstaðir and 17 Other Locations
Reykjavík fire department responded to 18 water damage calls over two hours during heavy rain, including flooding in the basement of the Kjarvalsstaðir art museum.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Kittiwakes in Every Nook and Cranny: It Can't Be Easy to Sleep
A rooftop in Berlevåg is packed with common kittiwakes occupying every nook and cranny. The scene highlights seabirds’ increasing use of urban structures for roosting in coastal northern Norway.
Berlevåg, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Lake Mývatn Sees Largest Midge Swarm in Decades
Lake Mývatn experienced its largest midge swarm in decades, with calm, warm conditions triggering an unusually early emergence that blanketed the lake’s surface.
Mývatn, North Iceland, Iceland
Iceland Review

Avian influenza detected in Tromsø
Avian influenza was confirmed in four seagulls in Tromsø, Norway, prompting authorities to advise the public against handling dead or sick birds without protection.
Tromsø, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

10,000 lightning strikes included railway damage, travellers warned
Network Rail Scotland warns that some of the 10,000 lightning strikes across the north of Scotland on 14 August damaged signalling on the Highland Main Line between Inverness and Perth, causing delays of up to 35 minutes.
Highland Main Line, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Cougar family causing safety worries in Mesachie Lake
A mother cougar and two adolescent cubs have been repeatedly sighted in Mesachie Lake, B.C., since August, prompting safety concerns from residents. Conservation officers are monitoring the situation and advise precautions but say there’s no evidence of aggression toward people.
Mesachie Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Rabbits with ‘tentacles’ spotted in Colorado
Some rabbits spotted in Fort Collins, Colorado, appear to have growths or tentacles coming out of their heads, which Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirms is a type of virus, Shope papillomavirus. KUSA’s Amanda Gilbert reports.
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
NBC News

Counted a hundred farmed salmon in the lower part of Haukadalsá
An inspector from the Icelandic Fisheries Agency counted around 100 farmed salmon in the lower section of Haukadalsá, marking the largest occurrence of escaped farmed salmon in an Icelandic river, and plans are underway for removal operations including using anglers and Norwegian divers.
Haukadalsá, Dalabyggð, Iceland
visir.is

Mystery in the Mountains: Tens of Dead Reindeer Found
Forty-eight reindeer from a Hardanger herd were found dead on a rock ledge and below a cliff near Breidablik in Kvam, and authorities are investigating starvation, disease, and predator involvement.
Kvanndalseggjane, Kvam, Vestland, Norway
NRK Vestland

Anglers fear up to 46,000 fish dead after 'devastating' kill on Blackwater in Co Cork
A large fish kill on a 30 km stretch of the River Blackwater in north County Cork has reportedly killed thousands of fish; Inland Fisheries Ireland estimates 8,000–10,000 wild fish, while local angling groups put mortality as high as 46,000. Preliminary sampling indicates fungal infection on many fish, but no evidence to date links the kill to a licensed discharge.
River Blackwater (between Lombardstown and Killavullen), County Cork, Ireland
The Irish Times

Olve (24) got a shock: The landslide went right in front of me
A landslide struck the Midnight Sun staircase in Lavangen, Norway, narrowly missing Olve Sletten (24) and scattering debris across the steps.
Midnattsoltrappa, Lavangen, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Fremover

Juneau's glacial outburst flood has crested, water levels now dropping
The flood reached a record-breaking crest of 16.65 feet at about 8 a.m. Wednesday. Water continues to seep into Valley neighborhoods.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

How the Mosquito Summer Was: "People Walked in the Mountains Without Being Bitten"
This summer brought unusually few mosquitoes to Norrbotten, allowing many to hike in the mountains without being bitten due to a dry spring and cool early summer.
Norrbotten, Sweden
Norrländska Socialdemokraten (NSD)

Water Shortage in Southern Sweden – Well Driller Overwhelmed
Low groundwater levels from spring rainfall deficits have left many wells on the Varaslätten plain in southern Sweden dry, prompting water shortage warnings in 14 counties and overwhelming local well drillers.
Varaslätten, Västra Götaland, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Alaska Airlines cancels flights to Nome, Kotzebue due to volcanic ash
The plume is expected to persist in the region for at least 18 hours, according to an advisory issued Tuesday morning.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka Volcano, Russia
Anchorage Daily News

New out-of-control wildfire south of Port Alberni grows to 630 hectares
The Mount Underwood wildfire south of Port Alberni grew to 630 hectares on August 11, prompting highway closures, campground evacuations, and a power outage affecting over 500 customers.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Volcanic Ash Emission Halts Air Service Between Kamchatka and Chukotka
An eruption of ash from the Klyuchevskoy volcano prompted a red aviation alert and suspended flights between Kamchatka and Chukotka on August 11, 2025.
Kamchatka Krai and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Anadyr Online

Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting over Finland
Smoke from Canadian wildfires is expected to drift over Finland by Saturday evening, brightening sunsets but not affecting air quality, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle

King salmon’s disappearance has changed the Kenai River, but a soaring sockeye run is keeping it in business
The traditional king salmon fishery on the Kenai River has collapsed for a third straight year, but unprecedented sockeye runs have buoyed local guides, processors and businesses—while also creating new infrastructure and sustainability challenges.
Kenai River, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States

3 tornadoes touch down in Manitoba this week
A Western University research team confirmed three EF-0 tornado touchdowns in Manitoba this week—near Melita, Birds Hill Provincial Park and Dugald—causing minor tree and crop damage.
Manitoba, Canada
CTVNews

For every wild salmon in the trap, there have been 30 pink salmon – Frightening
In Kvænangen river traps caught a 30:1 ratio of invasive pink salmon to wild Atlantic salmon, requiring up to three emptyings per day.
Kvænangen, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Nordlys

Wesley Ridge wildfire grows, expected to bring smoke throughout the summer
The Wesley Ridge wildfire near Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island has expanded to nearly 590 hectares, and smoke is expected to linger across the region through the summer.
Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Harvest begins unusually early
Berry farm owners Bjarni and Hrafnhildur at Vellir in Svarfaðardal report that this year’s wild blueberry harvest has started unusually early, with three shipments already arriving for sale.
Svarfaðardalur, Northeastern Region, Iceland
mbl.is

Watch roofs peel off cabins
Storm Floris struck Langesund in Telemark, Norway, ripping roofs off summer cabins at a Norsk Hydro holiday site, though no injuries were reported.
Langesund, Telemark, Norway

Rare white stork spotted in Dublin may be result of climate change, says expert
A white stork, normally native to Spain and Portugal, was photographed spending over 12 hours on a lamp-post in Lusk, Co Dublin, prompting experts to suggest climate change may be altering its migration behaviour.
Lusk, Dublin, Ireland
The Irish Times

Mountain biker suffers minor injuries in cougar attack near Squamish, B.C.
A mountain biker was attacked by a cougar near Squamish, B.C., suffering minor injuries before scaring the animal off with rocks.
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK News

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