'We expected snow here'- Record November heat in the North

Kirkenes, Norway experiences unprecedented November heat, leading to canceled winter attractions and concerns from climate experts.

Comment from Gemini:

The attached observations highlight a recurring pattern of unusual warmth in the Arctic region, particularly during the typically colder months of November and even extending into early winter. The 2020 observation from Svalbard connects this warming trend to climate change, specifically mentioning reduced sea ice and snow cover leading to decreased sunlight reflection and accelerated permafrost thaw. This is directly relevant to the current observation from Kirkenes, as both locations are experiencing significantly higher temperatures than expected. The 2020 observation from Finland further underscores the widespread nature of these warming events, indicating that the phenomenon extends beyond Norway. The 2018 observation from Kirkenes provides crucial context by illustrating the biological impacts of unseasonal warmth in the region, such as premature blooming of plants and trees, which can disrupt their dormant phase and potentially harm them in the long run. The final observation, also from Kirkenes, documents an exceptionally warm summer extending into September, further suggesting a trend of increasing temperatures in the area.The current temperature anomaly in Kirkenes, exceeding the previous November record by 2.8 degrees Celsius, aligns with broader climate change trends documented by organizations like the IPCC. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) highlights the Arctic as warming at a rate much faster than the global average https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/. This rapid warming has significant consequences, including rising sea levels and the loss of polar habitats, as mentioned by Arild Sundfjord. The potential for 2024 to be the first year globally with an average temperature above the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold adds further urgency to the situation https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67843048. The cancellation of the snowmobile tour due to lack of snow provides a tangible, real-world example of how these changing temperatures are impacting local activities and tourism.