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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

Demands halt to illegal discharge: “There is no doubt”
Gratangen municipality orders a farmer to stop an alleged illegal discharge of manure effluent. The farmer says the releases have ceased, but the municipality disagrees.
Gratangen, Troms, Norway
Fremover

Cancels all departures: “Can be life-threatening”
SJ has canceled all train departures between Narvik, Norway and Boden, Sweden due to extreme cold, warning the situation can be life-threatening.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway
Fremover

Suspected leak from ship that ran aground off Tjeldsund
About 4,000 liters of diesel leaked from the grounded landing craft M/S Sørøysund near Fjelldal in Tjeldsund. Emergency crews are pumping fuel off the vessel and have deployed absorbent booms; authorities do not currently fear major impacts to wildlife.
Fjelldal, Tjeldsund, Norway
NRK
Kari Anne Skoglund; Tora Jarnæs Vold; Malin Straumsnes

Earthquake outside Kiruna: “The whole cabin shook for 15 seconds”
A minor earthquake occurred roughly 20 km north of Kiruna, Sweden, on Monday night, according to the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN). Residents in places including Kurravaara and Käyrävuopio reported strong shaking lasting about 15 seconds; authorities say it was not related to the mine.
Kiruna, Norrbotten County, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

Rare sight in Ofotfjorden: First time I see this
Two walruses were seen swimming in Ofotfjorden near Lillevika, surprising a local observer. Such sightings are rare in this area.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway
Fremover

Closed after landslide
A landslide at Gruvsteinan in Råndalen led to the closure of the road at the inner Rånvassbotn in Narvik municipality on 25 September. The road will remain closed until a geologist inspects the site by drone, weather permitting; no permanent residents are cut off and mobile coverage is limited.
Råndalen, Narvik, Norway

100-ton rock block fell onto Ofoten Line: ‘It’s so large it must be blasted’
A roughly 100‑ton rock fell onto the Ofoten Line in Norddalen near Narvik. Bane NOR is securing the area and plans to blast the boulder to clear the tracks.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway

Mining shock in Kiruna – a further 6,000 must move
LKAB says ground deformation from the Kiruna iron ore mine will extend farther than previously forecast, forcing relocation of about 2,700 homes and 6,000 residents. The expanded impact zone must be replaced within 10 years at an estimated cost of SEK 22.5 billion.
Kiruna, Norrbotten County, Sweden

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

Infectious Salmon Anemia Detected at Fish Farm in Troms
Infectious salmon anemia (ILA) has been confirmed at a SalMar aquaculture facility in Trettevik, Senja municipality in Troms, triggering a 10–20 km restriction zone to prevent disease spread.
Trettevik, Senja, Troms, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Algal Bloom in the North: Up to 1 Million Dead Fish
An algal bloom in Northern Norway dominated by Chrysochromulina and Phaeocystis has caused massive fish die-offs in recent weeks, with up to one million farmed fish reported dead around Astafjorden.
Ibestad, Troms, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Diesel spill in Ramfjorden in Tromsø
Light diesel leaked from an oil company facility into Ramfjorden outside Tromsø, and police, fire crews, Kystverket and the acute pollution committee are working to contain it.
Ramfjorden, Tromsø, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Helicopter caught in avalanche in Abisko – two persons missing
A rescue operation has been initiated after an avalanche dragged a helicopter that was on the ground in Abisko National Park, with two persons currently reported missing.
Abisko, Norrbotten, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Danger of Avalanches, Closed Roads, and Mild Weather Cause Traffic Trouble
Mild weather in Nordland, Norway, is causing hazardous road conditions with avalanche risks, road closures, and chain traffic, leading to significant travel disruptions including school bus delays.
NRK

Villages in Troms isolated after multiple landslides
Over 2000 people in Senja, Hadsel, and villages around Tromsø were isolated following snow and landslides on Tuesday night. Several communities remain cut off until Wednesday.
Troms, Norway
NRK

Several Roads Closed in Troms After Snow Avalanche
Several roads in Troms, Norway, have been closed due to snow avalanches, while authorities warn of challenging driving conditions across Northern Norway, particularly due to heavy snowfall and slick roads.
Troms, Norway

Finnish Lapland hit by 30-year autumn warm spell
Temperatures reached a high of 11.2 degrees Celsius in Kilpisjärvi on Friday, compared to a high of -1.7 degrees on the same day last year.
Kilpisjärvi, Lapland, Finland

Avian influenza detected on kittiwakes in Harstad
Kjell Arvid Andersen thought the birds were behaved strangely. Then he and his neighbors found over 30 dead birds.
Nordre Leirvåg - Bjarkøy, Harstad, Troms and Finnmark, Norway

The European Arctic suffers through a heat wave
Temperatures surpassed 30 degrees Celsius across northern Scandinavia on Wednesday and many meteorological stations hit new record high temperatures for June. The thermometer in Saltdal, northern Norway, reached 31.6 degrees C. Further inside the Arctic Circle, at 69 degrees north in Skibotn east of Tromsø, the temperature was 31.7 degrees (89 F).
Skibotn, Troms, Norway
ArcticToday

Southern temperatures in Northern Norway – warmer in Narvik than in Rome
This morning it was as hot in Narvik as in Rome and Istanbul, and far warmer than countries in southern Europe. However, the mild air is on the wane.

Salmon freeze to death in the Skjoma river in Narvik – Statkraft refuses to release more water
The Skjoma River in Narvik is frozen through in several places – and locals fear the salmon population will have to endure a sharp reduction again. Statkraft says it will lose money if they release more water.
Skjoma, Narvik, Norway

Watch: Skaters glide on mirror-like ice
Scientists measured 16 centimeters of snow in Kilpisjärvi on Thursday, which is far less than the average depth of 39 centimeters for this time of year, according to Siiskonen. Less of the white stuff than usual, creating unusual opportunities for long-distance skating enthusiasts.
Kilpisjärvi, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Thousands of reindeer calves at risk of dying due to long winter
There is concern in the reindeer industry for the prolonged winter cold in the far north – unless the heat comes soon, this year's calves risk dying.
Sápmi
Sveriges Radio

Record in Riksgränsen – over five meters of snow: "Crazy lot"
This year's snow record has been broken in Riksgränsen. More than five metres of snow was recorded at the ski resort on Monday morning – and more precipitation is expected.
Björkliden Fjällby, Norrbotten, Sweden
Aftonbladet

Unusually Warm in Northern Norway
Extremely warm early January weather in northern Norway.
Troms, Norway
Twitter

More snow to hit Sweden after temperatures drop to new record cold
The weather station in Nikkaluokta recorded a frigid -39.5C, setting the record for the lowest temperature of the winter.
Nikkaluokta, Norrbotten, Sweden
thelocal.se

Sweden’s Tallest Peak Shrinks in Record Heat
Soaring temperatures are melting snow and ice from Kebnekaise’s southern peak, making the northern part of the mountain Sweden’s highest point.
Kebnekaise, Kiruna, Sweden
New York Times

Extreme heat wave shrinks Sweden's tallest peak by 13 feet in a month
Kebnekaise mountain in Sweden will no longer be the tallest in the country as the glacier on its highest peak melts rapidly in an unprecedented heat wave.
Kebnekaise Mountain Peak, Sweden
NBC News

Another year of shrinking glaciers predicted in Sweden's far north
But first tests show very little new snow cover on the glacier from this past winter: ”The snow depth was only 1.2 metres — we had at least double that amount in previous years,” says Nina Kirchner, director of the Tarfala research station.
Kebnekaise Mountains

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