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The Northern
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Waiting on Winter - Across the north people are looking at the calendar and waiting eagerly for winter to arrive. There is no El Niño or La Niña this year, but warm air and sea temperatures persist and are behind the delay. Coastal Alaskans look seaward and wonder where the ice is. Look inland and the ground is frozen but snowless. The rivers are frozen but still unsafe to travel. The nights are not quite cold enough for either snow or good ice. So we wait. Here in Anchorage we did have winter for a week, it just couldn't stay. But it is still early, things will turn around. Right? In this edition see a sample of some of the early season challenges around the north. I for one am throwing the calendar away. I will get out and enjoy winter where and when I can find it. Mike Brubaker, Editor

Juneau, Alaska, United States
Nolin Ainsworth / Juneau Empire / December 12, 2019

Night-time temperatures have been cold enough for snow but the snow quickly melts by morning.

Read article on Juneau Empire



Bethel, Alaska, United States
Krysti Shallenberger / KYUK / December 11, 2019

Travelers need to stay off Straight Slough, which flows into the main Kuskokwim River near Bethel.

Read article on KYUK



Bethel, Alaska, United States
Johanna Eurich / KYUK / December 12, 2019

Poor trail conditions have pushed the Kuskokwim 300 Season Opener race back another week.

Read article on KYUK



Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Tess Williams / Anchorage Daily News / December 13, 2019

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.

Read article on Anchorage Daily News



Newtok, Alaska, United States
Jacqualine Schaeffer / LEO Network / November 26, 2019

A storm system during the last week of November brought high winds and seas to Newtok and other western Alaska communities.

Read post on the LEO Network



Sauðárkrókur, Northwest, Iceland
Iceland Review / December 10, 2019

A storm bringing hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions is raging across the country.

Read article on Iceland Review



Kiruna, Norrbotten, Sweden
David Keyton / Associated Press / December 9, 2019

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.

Read article on Associated Press



The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

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