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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

Cold snap brings deep frost, snowfall and traffic warnings across Finland
Finland saw a sharp turn to winter with temperatures down to –20°C in Lapland and widespread snowfall, prompting traffic weather warnings in eastern and northern regions.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Yle News

Capercaillie touring central Överkalix: “Fun to experience”
A capercaillie has been roaming around central Överkalix for several weeks, surprising residents. A local photographer captured the bird on camera as a bird expert offers possible explanations for the unusual urban visit.
Överkalix, Norrbotten County, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

Wolf scare in the village – hunters keep their dogs at home
A wolf-like animal was filmed near Jarhois in Pajala, and a reindeer was found killed the next day in nearby Kardis, prompting local hunters to keep their dogs at home during moose hunting. The sightings have raised concern in the community close to the Övertorneå border.
Kardis, Pajala, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

Rare black stork found in Tornio devours vendace at bird clinic — plan needed for its release
A rare black stork that strayed to Tornio, Finland, was found emaciated, taken into care, and moved to a bird rehabilitation center in Oulu. Its recovery is expected to take at least two weeks while experts consider how and where to release it.
Tornio, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

Rovaniemi resident surprised by globeflower blooming in September — botany professor is, too
In Rovaniemi, a resident observed globeflowers (Trollius) blooming again in early September, an unusual second flowering for this early-summer species. The rare late bloom drew comment from a botany professor.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

“Once in a lifetime to see this” – a rare hoopoe landed in a Pello resident’s yard
A Eurasian hoopoe, rare in Finland, has been visiting a yard in Pello, Lapland, for a week, likely carried north by southerly airflows.
Pello, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

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)

See the Waterspout Moving In off Kalix
At around noon on August 6, 2025, amateur runner Fredrik Blombäck filmed a rare waterspout moving across the sea near Frevisören outside Kalix.
Kalix, Norrbotten, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

SOS Overloaded with Fire Alarms: "It Takes Longer to Get Help"
SOS Alarm in Norrbotten, Sweden is experiencing extreme call volumes from approximately 20 fires triggered by lightning in a heatwave, resulting in delayed emergency response times.
Norrbotten, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Algal Bloom in the Archipelago – Municipality Urges Avoiding Swimming
Sustained high temperatures have led to algal blooms at several sites in the Haparanda Archipelago, and local authorities are advising people to avoid bathing.
Haparanda, Norrbotten, Sweden
Norrländska Socialdemokraten (NSD)

Multiple Forest Fires After Lightning Strikes
Several wildfires broke out across Överkalix and other parts of Norrbotten following a thunderstorm and lightning strikes on July 22, 2025, overwhelming local emergency services.
Överkalix, Norrbotten, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Intense Periods for Firefighting Flights: 'Like a Wall of Lightning'
Volunteer firefighting flights in Norrbotten faced their most hectic period ever when a Sunday thunderstorm sparked multiple lightning-ignited wildfires, creating a “wall of lightning” that hindered access across Gällivare, Kiruna, Pajala and Porjus.
Norrbotten, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

Santa is sweating! Heatwave in Finnish Lapland makes international headlines
Temperatures in Rovaniemi exceeded 30 °C this week, drawing coverage from Reuters and CNN as the Finnish Meteorological Institute warned that Lapland’s all-time heat record could be broken.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Yle News

FMI: July was exceptionally warm, especially in Finnish Lapland
The Finnish Meteorological Institute reports that July 2025 was exceptionally warm across Finland, with Lapland’s Ylitornio experiencing a record 26-day heatwave.
Ylitornio, Lapland, Finland
Yle

Historic Heatwave in Norrbotten
Norrbotten experienced one of its longest recorded heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 25 °C for over two weeks and setting century-old records in Haparanda and Jokkmokk, according to SMHI.
Norrländska Socialdemokraten

Not-so snowy start to winter casts a gloomy shadow over Lapland tourism
A lack of snow in Finland's far north has disappointed tourists and snowmobile safari operators alike.
News

Not-so-snowy start to winter casts a gloomy shadow over Lapland tourism
A lack of snow in Finland's far north has disappointed tourists and snowmobile safari operators alike.
News

Once-in-50-year floods in far north of Sweden
The Torne River on the border between Sweden and Finland has swelled to almost five metres above its usual level in certain parts, due to melting snow ...
Juoksengi, Norrbotten, Sweden

Earthquake rattles Santa Claus Village
A minor earthquake, described by one resident as "a proper jerk", shook Rovaniemi. Dozens of earthquakes are observed in Finland every year. Typically, however, they are relatively weak, with a magnitude of less than 4.
News

Record late heat in Lapland as dry summer draws to close
August 29th was the latest date ever recorded for an over-25-degree day in Finnish Lapland.
Yle Uutiset

Abnormal heat spurs reindeer to hit the beach
A swimming spot in northern Finland had unlikely visitors seeking solace from soaring temperatures.
Yle Uutiset

European aspen still in summer foliage

Few complaints as heat decimates Finland’s mosquitoes
There are unusually low numbers of mosquitoes throughout Finland this sweltering summer – and likely fewer than usual next year as well.
Rovaniemi, Lappi, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Heatwave Threatens Nordic Crops as Lapland Gets New Heat Record
As the chart below shows, there’s no let up until early August when the temperatures could start to fall back toward more normal summer levels. Even in Finnish Lapland, the home of Santa, a new heat record of 33.4 degrees Celsius (92 Fahrenheit) was reached on Wednesday.
Rovaniemi, Lappi, Finland
Bloomberg

Lapland braces for worst spring flooding in 20 years
The highest flood levels in Finland's measurement history are predicted to hit Rovaniemi. The cities of Tornio and Kittilä also expect extensive water damage.
Rovaniemi, Lappi, Finland

Researcher says tick-borne disease Borrelia has grown exponentially in Finland
New research finds that ticks are not only becoming more common in Finland but incidents of the tick-borne disease Borrelia - also known as Lyme disease - has grown exponentially in the past 20 years.

A late spring is better than an early summer
Unseasonably cold weather is keeping birds from nesting and delaying the blossoming of wild berry bushes in Finland's north.

Ice cover at sea exceptionally low this winter
Ice cover over Finlands sea areas is very low. Experts warn that the ice is now very thin over sea, and with spring slowly arriving, the situation is not likely to improve.
Tornio, Lapland, Finland

Diseased Salmon
Torneälven, Lainioälven

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