LEO Network

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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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Observations

Blue-green algae health alert issued in Loch Moy near Inverness
Authorities have detected blue-green algae in Loch Moy, south of Inverness, and are urging the public and pet owners to avoid contact with the water. Warning signs are being posted as agencies investigate potential health risks.
Loch Moy, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Storm Amy: Hundreds of Great Glen homes either side of Loch Ness hit by power cuts and some flights from Inverness Airport cancelled
Storm Amy brought down power lines around Loch Ness, cutting electricity to more than 200 homes in Foyers and Invermoriston and prompting transport disruption, including flight cancellations from Inverness Airport. Amber wind warnings up to 100 mph were in place.
Foyers and Invermoriston, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Asbestos discovery sparks anger from new housing estate’s residents
Residents in Inverness’s Ness Castle estate found asbestos fragments—some partially buried—and are being billed for removal, prompting anger at the developer and factor. Robertson Homes says the site was clean at handover; the factor Ross + Liddell is charging nearly 100 households for testing and cleanup.
Inverness, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

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

ScotRail Cancels Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh Line Due to Flooding
Heavy rain and flooding have forced the closure of the line between Achnasheen and Achanalt, cancelling the Inverness–Kyle of Lochalsh service and causing up to 30-minute delays on routes to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Inverness, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Glenferness wildfire sparks call out for Scottish Fire and Rescue crews from Nairn, Forres and Grantown-on-Spey
Five appliances from Nairn, Grantown-on-Spey and Forres battled a moorland wildfire near Glenferness from around 4 pm until after 10:41 pm on June 12, fully extinguishing the blaze.
Glenferness, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Humpback whale spotted near Kessock Bridge and Beauly Firth
A humpback whale was sighted in the Beauly Firth near Inverness, passing under the Kessock Bridge and swimming close to Castle Stewart golf course before heading back out to sea. Whales this size in this area is quite a rare occurrence, adding that in case of such sightings, best practice would be to report them to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).
Inverness, Highland, United Kingdom

More than 16,000 Highland pupils are staying at home as heavy snows causes chaos for schools
Heavy snowfall has led to the closure of over 100 schools and nurseries in the Highlands, affecting more than 16,000 pupils.
Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom

July was cooler and greyer than normal for much of Highlands, Met Office confirms
Much of the Highlands was cooler and greyer than normal in July, but not particularly wet, the Met Office has said.
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

At least 65 pilot whales die in Scottish mass stranding
At least 65 long-finned pilot whales have died after being stranded on an island off the north coast of Scotland, a rescue charity said on Thursday, in one of the largest mass strandings in Britain in recent times.
Scotland, United Kingdom
CTVNews

Amber rain warning extended for north and east of Scotland
An amber rain warning has been extended for the north and east of Scotland, causing severe flooding and travel disruptions, with the Scottish government urging people to heed travel warnings and take precautions. Some areas have seen up to a month's worth of rain in a 24-hour period resulting in heavy flooding across much of the rail network.
Dumbarton, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

What is the reason for large numbers of dead bees spotted in Inverness?
The spectacle of "hundreds" of dying or dead bees along the River Ness earlier this week led to a discussion on social media.
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Highlands hotter than the Mediterranean after recording warmest day of year
The Highlands have recorded their hottest day of the year so far – outstripping holiday hot spots in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean!
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Rare pearl mussels discovered in Highland and Trossachs lochs
Scientists said the critically-endangered species had previously only been found in rivers and know pearl mussels have been discovered in the Scotland Lochs.
Scotland
BBC News

Temperature of -23C in Braemar is UK's lowest in 25 years
Icicles covered businesses in the village of Braemar. The Met Office says Braemar in Aberdeenshire recorded the coldest night since December 1995.
Braemar
BBC News

Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Andy Meldrum, of Glencoe Mountain, said his business is working towards a date when they can welcome back skiers and snowboarders. Despite the most magnificent conditions in 11 years, the slopes remain closed because of lockdown.
Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ice pancakes float along a river in the Highlands
The pancakes form when foam floating on a river or the sea freeze. These frozen chunks are then shaped by being rubbed against one another in eddies of water.

Lightning gouged channels into Scottish mountain
The suspected lightning strike in the Highlands also dislodged boulders the size of washing machines.
Corrour, Scotland, United Kingdom

Covid in Scotland: Social distancing could wreck mountain footpaths
A surge in the popularity of hillwalking during this year's coronavirus pandemic has seen daily visitor numbers at Ben Lomond grow from 1,000 on a normal sunny weekend to around 2,000. Walkers leaving official paths to avoid other people is causing hillside erosion and damage to vegetation.
Mt. Ben Lomand

Whale in Gare Loch rescue attempt found dead
The animal was part of a pod which rescuers hoped would swim to deeper water before a major military exercise.
Rosneath, Scotland, United Kingdom

Invasive salmon return to Scottish rivers
Pink salmon are native to the Pacific Ocean. From stocking programs in Russia in the 1960s they have spread to Northern Europe, and in 2017 male and female pink salmon were spotted in the River Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. And now, two years later, camera images suggest that their spawn has returned.
River Ness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Magnitude of Storm Callum captured as Scots hit by landslides and 70mph winds
The stunning image from the University of Dundee shows the scale of the extreme weather engulfing the country. And it comes as heavy rain has caused further landslips delaying the reopening of the key roadways.
Scotland, United Kingdom
The Scottish Sun

UK's 'longest-lasting' snow patch melts away
Dubbed the Sphinx, the snow on a remote Scottish mountain has in the past survived for decades at a time.
Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland had fourth hottest summer on record
The Met Office said it was unusual for the UK's highest August temperature to be recorded in Scotland.
Scotland, United Kingdom

Water warning as reservoir levels hit 18-year low
Scottish Water says storage levels at some sites are at 66% amid one of the driest summers in 160 years.

Anglers on alert for invasive Pacific pink salmon
'Unprecedented numbers' of pink salmon were seen in 2017 and the fish have been spotted again this year.

Large wildfire on Lewis in the Western Isles extinguished
The fire came at a time of heightened risk of wildfires in parts of Scotland due to dry weather and large areas of dead vegetation. Other incidents included fires on Ben Lomond in the Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, on Gruinard Island in Wester Ross and near Dornoch.
Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom

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