LEO Network

About the LEO Network
The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
Continue

Observations

Record flooding levels on Okanagan Lake
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Dropping water level on Kluane Lake causing problems, MLA says
The water level on Kluane Lake began dropping last year after a river of glacial meltwater abruptly changed course, leaving docks and boat ramps high and dry.
Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory, Canada
CBC News

Erosion Could Drain Lake at Anytime
Goldfish Lake near Port Heiden is on the verge of draining into the Bering Sea.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Chris Maio, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Mike Brubaker, Richard Buzard, Scott Anderson, Susan Flensburg, Erica Lujan, Moses Tcheripanoff

Shiveluch Volcano Erupts in Eastern Russia
The Shiveluch volcano in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka region has erupted, spewing ash some 13km above sea level.Officials from the region's Emergency Situations Ministry have confirmed that the ash is not expected to land on nearby settlements, Meanwhile a "red warning" has been issued to passing planes, urging them to avoid the site.The Shiveluch volcano is extimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000 years old.
Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
The Moscow Times

Climate Change Drives Up the Cost of Canada’s Northernmost Highway
Chris Burn at Carleton University is tracking the growing cost of maintaining Yukon’s Dempster Highway as warmer weather brings more landslides, washouts and other challenges.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
Arctic Deeply

1,900-acre fire spreads across Northwest Alaska
A wildfire is burning in a remote area of northwest Alaska. The Alaska Fire Service reports that the Zane Hills Fire was discovered this week, and mapped at 1,900 acres.
Zane Hills Fire, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Ice roads ease isolation in Canada's north, but they're melting too soon
The country's 3,300 miles of ice roads are a lifeline for marooned communities during frigid winters, but climate change is making the roads unsafe much earlier.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
Alaska Dispatch News

Mild winter temperatures cause damage to roads in Finland
The past three winters have been particularly hard on road pavements. Wet winters with temperatures fluctuating on both sides of the freezing point have damaged even relatively fresh asphalt, leading to cracks, potholes and deep ruts.
Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

Blizzard-bound Churchill awaits supply train
Northern Manitoba town's grocery shelves are bare as residents face another blizzard.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
CBC News

1 year later, no answers on why truck broke through ice on Deline winter road
A year after a fuel-carrying truck broke through the ice on the Deline winter road, the N.W.T.'s Department of Transportation has yet to release the results of an investigation into why the accident happened.
Déliné, Northwest Territory, Canada
CBC News

Waiting for winter: ice roads mean the North Slope can get to work
Every winter, a massive infrastructure project takes place on the North Slope one thats designed to disappear. Ice roads are built to minimize the oil industrys footprint on the sensitive tundra, and melt away in spring. Many of the oil industrys multi-million dollar projects on the North Slope cant be built until the ice roads are finished each year.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

10 snowmobilers die in thinly frozen lakes in mild Northeast
Albany, New York, United States
Fox News

Warm winter sets back construction of Dettah ice road
Construction is beginning today on the ice road connecting Yellowknife to Dettah on the N.W.T.'s Yellowknife Bay, but a warm November means that it will open in January for the second time since the 2006/2007 season, and the second year in a row.
Yellowknife Ice Road, NWT
CBC

Winter Storm Disrupts Village Communication
Winter storm shuts down communication services for the community.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Winter Storm Brings Surge of Water and Ice
The storm raises local concerns about food security and preparedness for transportation emergencies.
Golovin, Alaska, United States
Edward "Ted" Smith, Carol Oliver, Tonya James, Anahma Shannon

Freezing Rain on Kenai Peninsula
Hazardous driving conditions due to freezing rain.
Caribou Hills, Alaska, United States

Unusual Fast Flooding
Unusually fast flooding on the Chignik River.
Chignik Lake, Alaska, United States

M/V Crystal Serenity Cruise Ship
Visits Port of Nome before voyage through Northwest Passage.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Lots of Lake Weeds
A problem for outboards.
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

5 billion MNT bridge collapses after heavy rain |
A newly built bridge in Tes soum of Uvs Province collapsed on Saturday during a heavy rain.
Тэс, Uvs, Mongolia
The UB Post

No Permanent Winter Ice and Early Break Up For Nome
Nome, Alaska, United States

Lack of ice allows dredging to start early
Previously, the dredging started around May and ran through October, but the past three winters it has started earlier and run longer.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Fuel tanker plunges through ice road in N.W.T., ice road
An ice road near Deline, N.W.T. is closed after a fuel tanker plunged through on Saturday.
Déliné, Northwest Territory, Canada

Flooding on Mackenzie Valley Winter Road
Tulita, Northwest Territories, Canada

Unseasonably Warm and Rainy
Nome was hit by unseasonably warm temperatures and strong winds.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Erosion Threatens Boardwalk
River erosion damaging pedestrian walkway
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

No Sea Ice
South winds blew out most of the sea ice. Going to be bad ice if it refreezes for spring hunt.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Wet Snowgo Race
Warm weather has made for unsafe traveling conditions, including a snowmachine race.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

DOT says weather likely caused rockslide that closed Seward Highway
DOT spokesperson Shannon McCarthy said the weather this week -- alternately freezing and thawing -- was likely the culprit.
Seward Highway  Alaska, USA
Anchorage Daily News

No Sea Ice Yet
By this time of the year, we usually have 2-3 miles of shore-fast ice that sticks to our beach. We as a village have not done our winter harvest of seals and walrus, and we are worried that we will not be able to bowhead whale hunt.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
11-13-14 Unseasonable warm - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Sink Holes next to Main Street
Koyuk, Alaska, USA

Thawing ATV Trail
Thawing all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Bad Ice Disrupts Subsistence
1-26-14 Ice disrupts subsistence - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Where is the Snow?
1-3-14 Where is the snow - Solomon, Alaska, USA
Solomon, Alaska, United States

No Ice Fishing Yet
10-17-13 No ice fishing yet - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Storm Disrupts Transportation
Severe storms wreak havoc to a Bering Sea community; the following weather conditions contributed to flooding, disrupting transportation routes, electrical transformers and seepage into local water wells.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Drivers battle wet, icy roads and floods
Much of the state became one heck of an ice rink over the weekend, with temperatures spiking into the 40s in much of Southcentral Alaska and thawing reported as far north as Fairbanks.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch

Poor Sea Ice Changes Hunt
Lack of sea ice affects seal hunting.

No Snow on the Seward Peninsula
Despite the time of year, there is still no snow on the Seward Peninsula.
Elim, Alaska, United States

River Erosion on the Yukon Flats
Yukon Flats community dealing with river erosion and landscape changes that are threatening the loss of traditional harvesting areas.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Damage to ATV Bridge
Permafrost thawing causing bridge damage.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

Extreme Rain & Flooding
9-21-12 Extreme rain and flooding - Wasilla, Alaska, USA
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Unseasonable windstorm ravages Anchorage
At least 50,000 homes and businesses lost power late Tuesday, and outages continued through Wednesday.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Brace yourselves, winter is coming
This summer has been one of the rainiest Ulaanbaatar has ever experienced, leaving behind puddles of water that result in cracked and deteriorated roads.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The UB Post

Birch trees and bird vetch prompt slew of questions in Interior Alaska
There has been an outbreak in Fairbanks of the amber-marked birch leaf miner (Profenusa thomsoni), an insect that came to North America in the early 1900s and arrived in Fairbanks by about 2002.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Steven Seefeldt / Cooperative Extension Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Extreme High Water on Noatak River
Extremely high water on the Noatak
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Eroding Bluff Threatens Road
Eroding bluff threatens community transportation access.
Chevak, Alaska, USA

Ice Departure Delayed
Sea ice conditions making it difficult for community to harvest seasonal fish.

Falling ice traps driver, closes highway
A woman was trapped in a pickup on the Seward Highway on Friday after falling ice crushed the vehicle just south of Anchorage.

Worst blizzard in years blasts Saskatchewan
Blizzard conditions paralyzed Saskatoon and many other communities Wednesday as a fierce storm scoured the central part of the province, closing roads, airports and schools.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
CBC

Busiest ferry routes inside Arctic Circle go electric
Norway’s successful transition to zero-emission transport sector continues. By the end of 2022, the last remaining ferry connection along European route E6, Bognes-Skarberget, will operate on batteries.
Bønes, Vestland, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

Palmer digs out from major windstorm that prompted emergency declaration
Gusts over 80 mph pummeled the city, compacting snow and causing power outages for thousands. Nearly 20,000 Matanuska Electric Association members lost power Friday morning. On Point MacKenzie west of Wasilla, crews faced snow drifts so large that they needed snowmachines and snowshoes to reach areas where repairs were needed.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

B.C. Interior communities hunker down for next atmospheric river
Interior communities are shoring up dikes and roadways in preparation for another atmospheric river system expected Tuesday and into Wednesday. Officials say they are making progress helping displaced residents access services and are taking steps to save homes from further flood damage.
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun

Fiona's aftermath in Port aux Basques: 'It looks like a bomb went off'
'We did what we could to prepare, and still, we were underprepared'. Harvey’s assessment is much uglier in the daylight. Much of the town looks like it took a point-blank blast from an army tank. The photos do little to capture the sheer shock of local residents, especially those who lost their homes. Some are a bit more stoic than others, focused on rebuilding. Others are understandably much more raw and emotional, dissolving into tears while passerby rush to comfort them.
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Saltwire.com

It's pothole season in Iqaluit. But does it have to be?
"Roads are actually getting worse in the springtime than they were even [a few] years ago. In a perfect world, we'd be able to re-engineer all of our roads and get them paved. It's going to be a long-term process to get there." say Deputy Mayor Kyle Sheppard.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Canada's AG warns Nunavut about dangers of not having a climate change action plan
Nunavut is not prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change and doesn't have a plan to deal with them, according to the latest report by Canada's auditor general.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Trucks stuck on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for past 3 days due to landslides
Many trucks have been stuck near past three days, following the closure of the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway due to landslides, owning to heavy rain.
Nagrota, Himachal Pradesh, India

High winds cause Alaska Airlines jet to slide on icy Dillingham runway
On Sunday, a gust of wind unexpectedly hit an Alaska Airlines jet on the Dillingham runway as it was preparing to taxi from the terminal, causing it to slide on the icy tarmac.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times

McCarthy Road partially reopened near Chitina after collapse
The McCarthy Road was closed between Mile 0 and 1 in Chitina on Monday, June 3, 2024, after a portion of the road sank. The transportation department is still assessing the cause of the road settlement, Perreault said, but it is not river washout or a landslide.
Chitina, Alaska, United States

Kenow wildfire burns north through park and beyond, but Waterton townsite spared
Lashing at the western boundaries of Waterton Lakes National Park since Friday, the Kenow wildfire’s devastating journey across the continental divide tore a fiery path through the beloved southwestern Alberta park — mercifully sparing much of the townsite but broke north along the entrance highway.
Waterton Park, Alberta, Canada
calgaryherald

Kolyma highway in Yakutia, also known as the Road of Bones, is on fire and temporarily shut
Elsewhere in Russia’s coldest region desperate authorities spike clouds to induce rain and tame wildfires.
Debin, Magadan, Russia
Siberian Times

Drivers in Scotland warned due to more downpours and floods
A yellow warning remains in place after torrential rain closed railway lines and flooded streets on Saturday.
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

High winds knock out power, bring subzero wind chills to Bristol Bay
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
The Bristol Bay Times

Storm 'Hans' batters Scandinavia
Severe weather has knocked out power lines, flooded villages and brought public transport to a standstill in the worst-affected areas. On Monday, the storm derailed a Swedish passenger train, injuring three people.
Bagn, Oppland, Norway
dw.com

'We have nowhere': B.C. First Nations, rural residents say storm permanently changed the land
"For our grandchildren and their children, now the devastation has left them nothing": Shackan First Nation Chief Arnold Lampreau.
Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun

Record-breaking snowfall could bring wet spring in parts of Yukon
Over the past few weeks the Yukon, once again, received large dumps of snow, causing immediate problems — like impassable streets in some areas — and potential future problems like flooding in the spring.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Avalanche leaves up to 80 feet of snow on upper Hiland Road in Eagle River but no homes hit
About 145 customers in the area were without power on Friday due to damaged equipment, according to Matanuska Electric Association. It’ll likely be at least several days before the road may be cleared.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Norman Wells and Tulita, N.W.T., won't get barge deliveries this year
The N.W.T.'s Marine Transportation Services has announced it is cancelling barges to Norman Wells and Tulita due to low water levels.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada

Hurricane Laura hitting Louisiana as strong as 1856 storm that split Last Island in half: 'Only 1 cow remained'
The NHC said that the eye of Laura will continue moving over southwestern Louisana and warned of a 'catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding'
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
MEAWW

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut
A buildup of snow is hampering the hamlet's ability to deliver municipal services, like snow clearing and trucked water.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada

Hours of work to clean a single swan after Marco Polo oil spill
50 cubic metres of oil is estimated to have been released into the Baltic Sea, after a passenger ferry ran aground just off the coast of Blekinge in south-eastern ...
Karlskrona, Blekinge, Sweden

North Slope facilities close as the region is battered by wind gusts
North Slope facilities in Alaska closed due to severe blizzard conditions with winds up to 75 mph and low visibility.
North Slope, Alaska, United States

Hurricane Fiona: Canada hit by 'historic, extreme event'
Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power, after Storm Fiona hit Canada's coastline. Parts of three provinces experienced torrential rain and winds of up to 160km/h (99mph), with trees and powerlines felled and houses washed into the sea.
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
BBC News

Unusually Thick Sea Ice to Make for Challenging Shipping on Northern Sea Route This Summer
Unusual amounts of multiyear ice in the Laptev and Siberian Sea could lead to difficult summer navigation along parts of Russia’s Northern Sea Route this summer, says the country’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
Siberian Sea, Russia
High North News

Ice Out: How N.H.'s rite of spring has become a symbol of climate change
Ice is a key player not only in the culture of the northern Northeast, but also in its unique lake ecosystems – a determinant of everything from water temperature to aquatic food chains to water quality. And according to long-term climate data, ice-out has been moving earlier and earlier.
Center Harbor, New Hampshire, United States
Yahoo News

Highway 1 near N.W.T.-Alberta border down to 1 lane after road floods
A section of Highway 1 just north of the Northwest Territories-Alberta border is reduced to one lane after it was excavated to deal with excess water. A 3.5-metre wide trench was dug across the road to assist with drainage of the flooded area, according to an email from the Department of Infrastructure on Tuesday.
Falher, Alberta, Canada

Poor weather leads to cancelled flights and bare shelves in Kimmirut
Regular flights to Kimmirut resumed Wednesday after seven days of cancellations, which caused a backlog of passengers and groceries destined for the hamlet. Seven other Nunavut hamlets have also seen recent cancellations due to weather.
Kimmirut, Nunavut, Canada

As some in wind-blasted Mat-Su finally get power, others continue to contend with bursting pipes and frigid cold
Mat-Su schools will be closed again Wednesday, and 5,000 homes remained without electricity Tuesday night after a violent windstorm hammered the Valley.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Researchers try packing down snow to preserve permafrost in N.W.T.
A permafrost scientist in the N.W.T. is leading an experiment that compacts snow near the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway to see if that will slow down permafrost thaw and protect buildings and roads built atop it.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Whitehorse landslide cleanup and wall construction set to begin next week
Cleanup of the landslide debris in Whitehorse and the construction of the sheet pile wall are set to begin on Wednesday or Thursday next week, say city officials.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Warm weather affects everything from food to medevacs in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T.
Every year, Aklak Air switches to flying a Twin Otter to Sachs Harbour in the spring and fall because the gravel runway is too soft for other aircraft. The switch usually lasts for a few days, up to a week, but this fall's warm weather made it necessary for longer and its effects were felt beyond the runway.
Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada

Heavy snow in Interior Alaska this winter has bison hanging out on plowed roads and digging up farmland
Bulldozer crews have cleared trails and fields for the bison in hopes of reducing the danger of collisions and damaged fields. There's a layer of ice up to two inches thick within the snowpack that has further complicated foraging.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Fort McPherson, N.W.T., declares emergency as flooding threatens access to drinking water
The hamlet said it's declaring a state of emergency because flooding from the Peel River cut off access to the community's airport, and because access to fresh water could be "inaccessible in the imminent future."
Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada

As Fort Simpson, N.W.T., ferry crossing opens for the season, low water levels worry mayor
Sean Whelly the mayor of Fort Simpson is worried that low water levels could impact the ferry’s ability to operate, potentially leaving the community isolated in the summer months.The water levels are the lowest he's ever seen at this time of year.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada

Rhine River – Europe’s Second-Largest River – Runs Dry
Water levels at the chokepoint of Kaub, near Frankfurt, fell to 32 cm (13 inches) in depth on Monday, down from 42 cm (17 inches) last week. Ships, however, need around 1.5 m (5 feet) to be able to sail fully loaded.
Cologne, Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, France

Potholes leave Skye A-road 'like farm track'
The rutted stretch between Portree and north-west Skye has numerous potholes due to cold and wet weather.
Portree, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Russian Mission airport partly reopens after Yukon River flooding triggers emergency helicopter mission
In the village of about 400, outgoing winter ice dams triggered flooding tha shut down the low-lying runway for 11 days.
Russian Mission, Alaska, United States

Dozens reported dead in Chile as forest fires move into densely populated central areas
Chile’s president says intense forest fires burning around a densely populated area of central Chile have caused at least 46 deaths, and officials say at least 1,100 homes had been destroyed.
Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Chile

Heavy rain lashes Himachal, 272 roads blocked
Tribune News ServiceShimla, August 27
Heavy rain lashed several parts of the state, triggering landslides that blocked 272 roads and disrupting normal life. The Met office has forecast heavy rain in
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tribuneindia News Service

Support

Observation Template