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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

Alaska sees early cold snap, and it's not going away anytime soon
It's cold. And those frigid temperatures aren't going away anytime soon. The cold has set in across most of Alaska and set daily record lows in places like Homer, King Salmon and Bethel. It's relatively early to be seeing such cold.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Amazing November skiing! Lots of snow, lots of cold!
It is November, we have snow and we are skiing the Southcentral Alaska backcountry early and in the best conditions in years.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

This November's sea ice extent in the northern Bering is the best in years
Current sea ice extent in Northern Alaska waters is the highest it’s been since November 2001.
Nome, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

State leader calls for shutdown of Red Hill fuel facility as Navy grapples with tainted water system
A state leader urges the closure of the Red Hill fuel facility amid concerns over aging infrastructure and potential leaks, despite Navy assurances of the tanks' integrity.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Frac-out of Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project drilling under Fraser River
This happened about 250 m from the shore of the Fraser River in a creek at Colony Farms.
Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada

Where are tomcods / Naugat Ceturr'nat (Eleginus gracilis)? Chefornak
Not a single catch was reported in the village of Chefornak. Meanwhile in Kivalina, dozens and dozens of tomcods are pictured and posted on "The Alaska Life" Facebook page.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Heavy losses for forest owners in Hedalen in the Inland Empire after the storm
Anders Berg Stensrud (30) faces an uncertain future. The losses after the storm blew down large forest areas could amount to several hundred million kroner.
Hedalen, Sør-Aurdal, Norway
NRK
Haakon Nesse Moreau, Mette Vollan, Even Lusæter, Marte Iren Noreng Trøen, Lars Erik Skrefsrud

Harmful algae colours the Oslo fjord green
Scientists now say that the harmful alga will survive the winter and that it will probably turn green in the Oslo fjord next year as well.
Oslofjord, Oslo, Norway
NRK
Lea Girolami Bråthen, Dag Aasdalen, Maren Nan Myrseth

Winds whip up volcanic ash from 1912 eruption in Alaska
Volcano scientists issued an alert Wednesday, warning that a cloud of ash — from an eruption more than century ago — was headed toward Alaska's Kodiak Island. The ash is from the powerful 1912 eruption of Novarupta.
CBC

Later Snowfalls are Causing Challenges for Winter Sports
The first event in Lillehammer is in early December, and despite being able to easily prep the hills in the past, Lillehammer athletes must now rely on snow shipped from other parts of Norway.
Lillehammer, Oppland, Norway

Conditions improve at B.C. pump station at catastrophic risk; Whatcom expects minimal impact
Conditions at a Canadian pump station improved over night after they officials issued an evacuation order that had Whatcom residents concerned of more flooding.
Bellingham, Washington, United States
Bellingham Herald

The cold temperatures are early, but how unusual?
In the past 10 years there have only been three other weeks where Anchorage was this cold during a seven day period. Those occurred in: January 2020, January 2012, and November 2011.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

'It was terrifying': Rain and wind storm's impact felt across southern B.C.
Since 7 a.m. on Monday, crews in Vancouver responded to reports of flooding in 46 locations. Average annual cost of property damage or losses due to severe weather has increased from about $400 million before 2009 to about $2 billion annually in the last few years.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun

Wild day for hundreds trapped by double mudslides on B.C.'s Highway 7
All 275 people were expected to be rescued by the end of Monday, said B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, adding that there had been no reported fatalities. The Agassiz fire department was credited with saving 12 people Sunday night in “treacherous conditions,” as their vehicles filled with debris and water.
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun
Glenda Luymes, Tiffany Crawford, Sarah Grochowski, David Carrigg

A timeline of how once-in-a-century flooding unfolded across B.C.
Extreme rain swamped rivers and farmland across southern B.C. and triggered mudslides that blocked every major highway connecting the Lower Mainland to the rest of the country in November 2021. This is a timeline of the first week of the crisis.
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
A Timeline of How Once In a Century Flooding Unfolded Across B.C.

Alaska Logistics is leaving two barges to freeze in the Kuskokwim River
“It got very cold the day we got there, it got down to like single digits and ice came out of the mountains and rivers and sloughs everywhere,” said Allyn Long, general manager of Alaska Logistics.
Eek, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Two icebreakers are on the way to rescue ice-locked ships on Northern Sea Route
Over the past years, ice conditions in late October and early November have allowed extensive shipping along the vast Russian Arctic coast. This year, however, large parts of the remote Arctic waters were already covered by sea ice by late October.
ArcticToday

Siberia up to 20C warmer than normal with huge temperature anomalies, predicts weather expert
The world’s coldest city is on course to be up to 20C milder than usual for this time of year, says the scientific director of Russia's Hydrometeorological Center, Roman Vilfand. The streams of warm air from the south and west determine this situation.
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
Siberian Times

25-30 reindeer drowned in the river today
25-30 reindeer drowned in the Kautokeino River today after a herd of reindeer passed through the ice. The accident happened when the herd of reindeer was crossing the fragile ice on the river. This is the third similar incident in the area in a couple of weeks. Yesterday, three reindeer went through the ice. They were all rescued alive. This article is also available in the Sami language at this
Heammogietti, Kautokeino, Troms og Finnmark fylke, Norway
NRK

After waterspout and tornado warning, B.C. residents told to prepare for another coastal storm
A tornado watch was issued around 5:30 p.m. and rescinded less than an hour later, but the storm caused considerable damage on the University of British Columbia campus. The school is located on a peninsula not far from the airport.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia

Earthquake at Bárðarbunga Caldera
Saturday’s incident is notable as Bárðarbunga, a stratovolcano located underneath Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, is the second largest volcano on the island. Geophysicist Páll Einarsson told reporters, however, that the powerful earthquakes underneath the volcano this summer were likely due to land rise and that an eruption did not appear to be imminent.
Iceland Review

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.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
News

Polar bear with cub visits Diomede School
John Ahkvaluk , 56, a polar bear guard revealed that this is not a good sign for the village. It’s the first time in several years that bears come at this time of the year. “It’s a warning that they got no food out there and they came looking for it here,” he said.
After the incident, Luchie Manlangit, the school principal, and I invited John Ahkvaluk to talk to the kids and to share some protocols if polar bear will come around again.
Diomede, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

This eagle is very, very lost
The native range of the Steller’s sea eagle is typically China, Japan and Korea and the east coast of Russia. While some have flown as far east as western Alaska, none have ever been known to appear near the Atlantic Ocean.
Falmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Seattle Times

Here winter has become two months shorter
Winter will never be the way it was, according to scientists. Towards the end of the century, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute predicts that the winter weather will gradually disappear from Oslo.
Bodø, Nordland, Norway

The hunting tick has been discovered in Norway
The tick can carry hemorrhagic diphtheria. The disease is widespread in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In addition, some cases have been seen in southern Europe. The fever can cause serious illness in humans.
Vestby, Akershus, Norway

Where are the tomcods (Eleginus gracilis)? Chevak
There is usually an abundance of this fish in the fall and early winter season. This is a usual harvest for most YK Delta coastal villages. Note: According to NOAA Bering Sea Bottom Trawl data, there has been an 88% decline reported in the biomass of saffron cod from 2020 to 2021 in the N. Bering Sea.
Chevak, Alaska, United States
Carmen Daggett, Gay Sheffield, Cynthia Paniyak, Jayde Ferguson, Ted Meyers

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.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway

Heavy rain on Halloween
The Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer says they got 1 1/8" of rain on Saturday. I think we got more than that, but based on their measurements I would revise my estimate down to 1 1/2 to 2 inches on Saturday.
Chickaloon, Alaska, United States

Heavy rain and wind take toll on Southcentral
A storm that hit Southcentral Alaska on Saturday night led to flooding in Girdwood, a landslide on the Sterling Highway and left thousands of homes without power throughout the region on Sunday morning. More than a foot of rain fell in Girdwood by Sunday.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Rhododendrons blooming in late October
The rhododendron in my garden is now starting to bloom in late October. I researched this and it seems that it's not unheard of and may be related to higher temperatures in the daytime and colder temperatures at night.
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

If you're a surfer, you'll want to read UCSD's final figures on the 'bomb cyclone' waves
The largest wave was a 60-foot 4-inch beast that hit Astoria, Oregon on Sunday. It was a record for the station, which is part of Scripps’ Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP).
Astoria, Oregon, United States
San Diego Union-Tribune

Jellyfish attack nuclear power plant
Scotland’s only working nuclear power plant at Torness shut down in an emergency procedure this week when jellyfish clogged the sea water-cooling intake pipes at the plant. To protect marine life and avert nuclear disasters, scientists are investigating the use of drones to provide estimates of jellyfish locations, amounts, and density.
Torness Power Station, Scotland
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Mysterious fish ended up in Vetle's boat - expert says it's extremely rare
Vetle Berntsen and the others on the trawler understood little when the black fish ended up on board. No wonder – the fish actually live in deep water around the equator. It turned out to be *Diretmichthys parini*, also known as ducat fish, one of three documented in Norway.
Barents Sea, norway

Discovery of fly larvae positive sign for salmon
Volunteers from the Friends of Bowker Creek Society say uncovering caddisfly larvae in the gravel beds of the stream show the water quality has improved to a level sufficient to sustain salmon and cutthroat trout.
Bowker Creek, Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
CTV News, Vancouver Island

7 hunters return home after being stranded on the frozen Yukon River for 7 days. Here's their story.
“The ice was so thick flowing down the river. It was forming so fast. It was freezing so fast. Just amazing. I’d never seen anything like that," one of the hunters, Rex Nick, said.
Emmonak, Alaska, United States
KYUK

High winds severed Ketchikan’s connection with the island’s largest hydroelectric dam on Friday
Strong winds whipped across Ketchikan Thursday evening and Friday morning, and a strong morning gust snapped power lines and severed Ketchikan’s connection to the Swan Lake hydropower reservoir.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Buzzards settle in North Carolina town despite scare tactics
One resident of Bunn, North Carolina, says she counted 58 buzzards — probably turkey vultures — in her yard, on her roof and on a fence. Town officials seem unable to get the birds to leave.
Bunn, North Carolina, United States
WFAE 90.7

Alaskans have been spotting turkey vultures all over the state this year
An unusual bird was sighted in the Yukon Flats village of Chalkyitsik recently. The raptor, uncommon to the state, has also been spotted in a few other Alaska locations. Bird biologist Jim Johnson says there’s broader evidence that the nomadic turkey vulture is expanding north.
Chalkyitsik, Alaska, United States
KUAC

Erosion at Cape Blossom
"The sea level rise and wind is making this happen because it is really vulnerable. We are always really amazed every time we go out there with the change, and pieces of earth the size of a house falling over."
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Rare clash between two distinct kinds of orcas in the Salish Sea — and the endangered fish-eaters won
Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg’s, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix.
Point Roberts, Washington, United States
KNKX Public Radio

Wild pigs invade national park
One of the most destructive and rapidly spreading invasive species on the continent has been found for the first time in a Canadian national park.
Elk Island National Park
CTV News, Edmonton

Gumboot Chiton Cryptochiton stelleri Die-off
We saw over 100 on a 1/2 mile stretch of beach. I am wondering if the chiton die-off is related to the stormy conditions or something else?
Coupeville, Washington, United States

Nunavut breaks 47 daily temperature records in 1st 6 days of October
October is off to a warm start for parts of Nunavut. Justin Shelley, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, says an upper ridge of high pressure is drawing up warmer than normal air into the territory.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Oil spill reaches Laguna Beach, threatens Crystal Cove in Newport Beach as cleanup efforts intensify
The oil likely will continue to encroach on Orange County beaches for the next few days, officials said.
Los Angeles Times

Rare beluga whale sighting in Puget Sound stirs excitement — and concern
It would be an obscure sighting of the species. The closest beluga population, which lives at least 1,400 miles away in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, is endangered and covered under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Cross Cut

Large number of flies in our home
"We had never before observed a species of the order Diptera, aside from the mosquitos present every year. Around the middle of September this year, however, there was a large influx of houseflies into our home."
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Animal tragedy in the Oslo fjord
Hundreds of guillemots go astray in the Oslo fjord every autumn. Many are now starving in the food-poor fjord.
Oslofjorden, Oslo, Norway

Summer thawing impacts on utility poles and shoreline
Thawing permafrost and erosion is resulting in the loss of infrastructure in Newtok. These images show impacts on utility poles, and the shoreline.
Newtok, Alaska, United States

Rare pink salmon spotted southeast of Iqaluit
Karen Dunmall, a biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said pink salmon normally prefer warmer waters than the Arctic has been able to provide. But with the Arctic warming at up to three times the rate of the rest of the world, its waters are becoming more approachable for newcomers like this species.
Nunatsiaq News

Earthquake Swarm Intensifies on Reykjanes Peninsula
A magnitude 3.7 earthquake was felt across Southwest Iceland, in the Reykjavík capital area, and as far as Borgarnes, West Iceland just before 2:00 AM this morning. Its point of origin was on the Reykjanes peninsula in Southwest Iceland, between Keilir and Litli-Hrútur mountains. The quake is part of an ongoing earthquake swarm on the […]
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Mass stranding of pink salmon
It happened Thursday night and into Friday morning, when the Crown corporation reduced the spill release from the Daisy Lake Reservoir into the river, stranding fish who had moved closer to the banks.
Cheakamus River
Global News

Chinook salmon returning in surprising numbers to Cowichan River
In 2009, the numbers dropped down to just 500 pairs of Chinook returning. Yet, as of Tuesday, more than 8,000 Chinook had returned to their Cowichan River spawning grounds. The improvement is the result of years of conservation efforts by Cowichan Tribes, who have worked to restore the river to its course before logging operations changed the river.
Cowichan River
CHEK

Low oxygen levels along Pacific Northwest coast a ‘silent’ climate change crisis
If upwelling starts a month earlier than usual, the amount of oxygen, already low, has to last until the fall when storms promote mixing which adds oxygen back into the system. As of late September this year, upwelling is still occurring and low levels of oxygen are still persisting.
Seattle, Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

Different Speeds in Stream Current
" I was down by North Fork taking pictures by the stream and noticed the differing speeds in current throughout the small part of the stream in view. A part of the stream was almost completely stagnant and just a little way farther down stream it was flowing like crazy. "
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Otters are mysteriously attacking people and dogs in Alaska's largest city: "Unusual behaviors"
Because of the risk to public safety, efforts will be made to locate this group of river otters and remove them, Fish and Game said.
University Lake
CBS News

Only two flamingos sighted on Sidi Boughaba Lake
On a hiking trip, observer sees a lone pair of Flamingos at Sidi Boughaba Lake National Park. This was not expected from a sociable bird species that travel in large flocks.
Kenitra, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Morocco
David Oswald, Chyna Williams, Salma Sayeh

Southern potato farmers despair
The wet weather this summer and autumn in southwest Iceland is causing a major headache for the region’s potato farmers. Þykkvibær, one of the country’s best-known potato producers, is suffering a mould outbreak in its potato beds for the first time in 20 years and the soil is too wet for harvesting machines to get to work.
Þykkvibaer, South, Iceland
RÚV

The wall lizard invasion of Vancouver Island
Decades ago, wall lizards from the Mediterranean got a toehold near Victoria. Now they’re island-hopping.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Macleans.ca

Where's Wally? The wandering celebrity walrus is spotted in Iceland
Wally, the walrus who has found fame during his travels round Europe, has been spotted in Iceland more than 900 kilometers from his last known location, He was previously seen 22 days ago in West Cork, Ireland, sparking concerns for his safety.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
ArcticToday

How floor repair of 'igloo church' in Arctic Canada could offer deeper look into North's permafrost
The church is no outlier — several buildings in the community are affected by freeze-thaw cycle of permafrost.
Even an iconic church is not immune from changing permafrost.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
Eye on the Arctic

Shift in Overall Weather Pattern Over Past Two Decades
"The first snowfall of this year happened so early that the leaves on the trees had not fallen yet. The weight of the snow on top of the trees that had not shed their leaves caused the trees to incur damage."
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Urban deer distribution pattern changes in Southwest Calgary
The development of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road has resulted in alterations into the use of the area by deer. The combination of construction disturbances, removal of habitat, and presence of a linear barrier has seemingly resulted in fewer deer being observed in the neighborhood of Woodbine.
Woodbine, Calgary

Valuable crab populations are in a ‘very scary’ decline in warming Bering Sea
King and snow crab populations in the Bering Sea have plummeted ahead of the harvest season, some by 99% compared to previous years.
Bering Sea
The Seattle Times

Anchorage's early snow unofficial but pleasing to zoo's polar bears, otters
Snow blanketed parts of Alaska’s largest city Tuesday morning, as Anchorage saw an early, though unofficial, first snowfall of the season. It's technically unofficial because none was reported at the National Weather Service’s official measuring spot on the city’s west side.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

High water this summer changes travel on Noatak River
"This year we had a lot more rain than other years, we used to be able to get on our ATVs and travel 10-12 miles upriver. I haven't seen or heard of anyone using ATVs to travel upriver this year. I think the breakthrough channel has a lot to do with us not being able to travel on ATVs. I see a lot of my favorite ATV fishing spots washed away from the highwater."
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Fall Observations from Chistochina
"Been a cool dry fall. The snow line hit twice in late August and once in September at the 4000 foot level. We saw 22 degrees several times in September and twice in August so general frost is in town. But no ice on shore lines so the rivers and lakes are staying warm even as the chill sets in"
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Nome
"I've seen photos documenting one squirrel in Nome from 2007 and a Nome Nugget article in 2019, but we've had 3-4 reports of red squirrels this summer."
Nome, Alaska, United States

No Summer Bats
White-Nose Syndrome seems to have affected the bat population in North Grower, Ontario, Canada according to local observer.
North Gower, Ontario, Canada

Thousands of seabirds found dead along east coast – with climate change blamed
Rising sea temperatures may mean prey swimming in deeper water out of reach of guillemots, razorbills, puffins and kittiwakes
Stromness, Scotland, United Kingdom
The Independent

Moose spotted off Lena Point, delighting residents
Wild moose chase. Moose are rarely seen close to town.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Trichinella advisory issued for Coral Harbour
Nunavut's Department of Health is warning Coral Harbour residents that trichinella has been detected in a walrus that was harvested on Aug. 21.
Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Was stung by giant wasps – ended up in the emergency room
Nina was going for a walk with the dog when she felt a sting on her toe. On the floor lay a European hornet, the largest wasp in Northern Europe. She is allergic to wasps and immediately realized that this could be dangerous. After a few minutes, her foot swelled up. She became dizzy and her pulse raced.
Øvre Vang, Hamar, Innlandet, Norway

Norton Sound silver run among lowest harvests in decades
The commercial Silver harvest in the Norton Sound yielded the lowest numbers since 2002.This trend follows suit from last year as well, which yielded far less than projected. The run was “very poor,” Menard said. The preliminary catch was 7,100 Silvers. That’s less than half caught in the commercial fishery last year.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

In August, scientists saw rare right whales twice in Alaska waters
Biologist Jessica Crance witnessed both sightings personally, and is among a handful of living people who have seen one of this population of right whales up close since the species was devastated by commercial whaling.
Barnabas Trough

Whale feeding frenzy off NSW south coast
A mega-pod of more than 100 humpback whales have been spotted in a feeding frenzy off the NSW south coast.The aquatic mammals often pass through Bermagui with their young on their long journey back to Antarctica from the warmer northern waters. The whales were seen working together to catch a large school of bait fish. It's only the second time the spectacle has been caught on film - after a mega-pod was witnessed feeding at the same spot last year.
Bermagui, New South Wales, Australia
dailytelegraph

Greenland Pummeled By Snow One Month After Its Summit Saw Rain For The First Time
Greenland's highest point is experiencing extreme weather conditions, with rainfall recorded for the first time followed by heavy snowfall from the remnants of Hurricane Larry, causing blizzard conditions and strong winds.
Greenland
NPR

Research has no answers for continued seabird die-off
St. Lawrence Island, home to two native villages in the region, is also the summer home of several migratory seabird species, including kittiwakes, auklets, murre and shearwaters. Over the last several years, though, the bird colonies on the island have been shrinking, and no one has been able to determine why.
The Nome Nugget

The Ocean Is Swallowing a Town That Can’t Afford to Fight Climate Change
A failing breakwater in Conception Bay South in Newfoundland shows just how ill-prepared most places are for the climate crisis.
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Vice

'It was a special day': Transient orcas set sightings record as population thrives on B.C. coast
Nearly 30 transient orcas were spotted in the Salish Sea around British Columbia and Washington state over the Labor Day weekend, a positive sign for the species, according to local whale watchers and researchers.
Winslow, Washington, United States
Vancouver Island

Skaftá Glacial Outburst Flood to Reach its Peak on Wednesday
A second glacial outburst flood began in the eastern Skaftá ice cauldron under Vatnajökull glacier late Saturday evening, RÚV reports. This flood follows a smaller one that originated in the western Skaftá ice cauldron and is expected to do as much damage to local communities and farmland as the last glacial outburst flood on the Skaftá river in 2018.
Iceland Review

Dry Well? Report your household water shortage to the state
Evidence of severe drought is all around us.  As of Thursday morning, Clear Lake sat at -1.62 feet Rumsey.  Many boat ramps have closed.  Water availability has become a matter of significant state…
Lakeport, California, United States
Lake County Record-Bee

An invasive parasite is taking over Alaska blue mud shrimp. Researchers want to kill it.
Orthione griffenis, or O. griffenis, eventually kills its host shrimp, and soon the remaining shrimp can’t find each other to reproduce, rendering a blue mud shrimp population extinct.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Ants are moving house - is this because of the rain?
Ants carrying white rice like objects out of their nest.

Large jellyfish threaten fisheries in the Sea of Japan
Swarms of giant jellyfish are floating along the coastline of the Sea of Japan, and the damage they may cause to fisheries is feared to be the worst in more than a decade.
Wakasa Bay, Japan
The Japan News

River otter attacks 9-year-old boy at East Anchorage pond
“The fact that an otter attacked a person was certainly surprising,” said a wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, who added that it’s hard to know what the motivation behind the otter’s “unusual behavior” was.
Anchorage Daily News

Decrease in Prawn Abundance of Desolation Sound
It is apparent that this area of coastline has experienced a sharp decline in its prawn populations. This may be due to increased fishing pressure from commercial prawn fishermen.
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
David Oswald, Cody Thomas, Conlan Magel, Tom Okey

Kings Make a Strong Showing on The Klamath
Early last week, we were waiting patiently for the fall run of king salmon to begin their migration upriver. Well, the wait is over. The...
Klamath, California, United States
North Coast Journal

Sunken scallop boat off Kodiak remains pollution hazard decades later
The sunken scallop boat, Saint Patrick, remains a pollution hazard off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska, decades after sinking in 1989, bringing up memories of a devastating fishing disaster in 1981 that claimed nine lives.
Womens Bay, Alaska, United States

At Least 43 Dead As Ida’s Remnants Spawn Weather Chaos In Northeast
The mammoth storm sparked torrential rain, flash floods and tornadoes that pummeled the region.
New York City, New York, United States
HuffPost

Marine vomit spread along the western coast of Norway
A self-cloning and invincible enemy invades coastal areas. The carpet sea squirt (Didemnum vexillum) or “marine vomit” have been observed nearby Stavanger and Bergen. Large yellow flakes has spread on the seabed and kills everything beneath. It may grow on boats and can spread along the coast.
Engøysundet, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway
Josef Benoni Ness Tveit, Håkon Mannsåker

Dry weather leads to increased wasp presence
In the Northwest this summer dry weather conditions resulted in an above average wasp population.
Saskatchewan, Canada
Northern Pride Publications

Western Alaska residents fill buckets of late-budding salmonberries
Some possible causes for late budding in berries include more precipitation when flowers bloom, which reduces pollination, an overall lack of pollinators, or sometimes animals and birds eat the berries during the winter.

Hurricane Ida traps Louisianans, shatters the power grid
Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks brought hundreds of people trapped by Hurricane Ida's floodwaters to safety Monday and utility repair crews rushed in, after the furious storm swamped the Louisiana coast and ravaged the electrical grid in the stifling, late-summer heat.
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
CTVNews

Sea cucumber die-off near Vancouver Island
When Kathleen Reed descended for her usual weekly dive off the coast of Nanaimo, B.C., last Saturday she was shocked by how many dead sea cucumbers she saw. Experts and harvesters fear that sea cucumbers are being hit by an illness similar to sea star wasting disease.
Dolphin Beach, British Columbia, Canada
CBC

Not seeing as many earthworms after rain events
"This year I walked along the same route after a rainstorm and see only one or two — sometimes none"
Kimberly Porter, Luke Williams, Derek Sikes

In Tanana, a lone wolf is taking sled dogs
“Right now the people who have dogs in their yards are very concerned. This is happening at night when it’s dark, so everybody is on edge.” - Tanana First Chief
Tanana, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

NASA scientists spot troubling melting in Greenland from a plane
NASA scientists flew over Greenland this week, and gazed at a sprawling polar world of melted ice and dark pools of water.
Mashable

24 meters in a year: Like walking in a lunar landscape
Over the course of a year, the end of the glacier arms of the mighty Hardangerjøkulen has retreated so fast that huge amounts of gravel and stone comb have now appeared.
Midtdalsbreen, Hardangerjøkulen, Vestland, Norway

Agriculture Officials Really Want Those Spotted Lanternflies Gone, Gone, Gone
Pennsylvania officials are giving the following advice to those who encounter the pesky invasive insects: "Kill it! Squash it, smash it ... just get rid of it."
Pennsylvania, United States
NPR.org

First water shortage in recorded history declared for Colorado River system
Lake Mead, near the Arizona-Utah state line, is where the shortage was declared. Arizona farmers are being hit with water cuts as a result. Millions of Americans rely on the Colorado River system for water and hydroelectric power. Bureau of Reclamation statistics show Lake Mead is just 35% full.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

Fire Updates: McFarland Containment Advances as McCash Fire Grows
A handful of fires burning east of Humboldt continue to spread, although some containment efforts have made progress in the McFarland Fire and River Complex...
McFarland, California, United States
North Coast Journal

Lightning strikes shock Iqaluit
Lightning struck in Iqaluit during a storm on Sunday. Terri Lang, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s meteorologist for Nunavut, said the department's weather system did not pick up how many times lightning struck, but that it did occur in the region.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

This heatwave is no joke for farmers — or their visitors
It's another scorching hot day today and the trend is expected to continue into the first half of the week — and farms are feeling the impact. “When it's this hot, you don't feel like apple picking, says farmer Stephanie Quinn. It doesn't feel like fall, so we're worried that we're going to miss some of those sales later in the season. People are going to show-up in October and it's going to be too late.
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Montreal

Alaska biologists say wood bison reintroduced to the wild are thriving
State biologists completed an annual survey of the Innoko-Yukon River wood bison population earlier this summer, and they say the results show the animals are doing well six years after a seed group of bison was released in the area.
Holy Cross, Alaska, United States
KTOO

More than 200 illegal fishing nets seized on Fraser River by fishery officers
Sweeping salmon closures and protection measures were put in place for the 2021 season to protect stocks of concern. Between 200 and 250 illegal fishing nets have been seized on the Fraser River so far this year.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Port Alberni Valley News

Maritime wet weather may be reason behind increase in ticks this summer: researcher
Karley was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Her mother was told a tick bite was the likely cause. Just as we caught it, she was also developing Bell's Palsy, which was on the left side of her face, said Shields. The condition can cause one side of the face to droop. It would traumatizing for any person, but especially a 10-year-old.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Atlantic

3 volcanoes erupting across Aleutian Range
Three volcanoes are erupting across the Aleutian Range — Great Sitkin and Semisopochnoi in the Aleutian Islands and Pavlof Volcano on the Alaska Peninsula.
Adak, Alaska, United States

"Snowlike" Saline Soils in Southern Alberta
The large quantity of salt that had accumulated this year, 2021, was a lot more predominant and at a much higher quantity then has been observed in previous years.
Farms along Hwy 1 with salt accumulation

The field has been giving strawberries for 80 years, but not anymore – it's completely dead
All farmer Arild Stenhaug is left with is tiny berries that cannot be sold. He believes the cause is climate change. "We have to listen to a farmer who has lost everything," says a researcher.
Utskarpen, Rana, Nordland, Norway

Five dolphins die in 'highly unusual stranding event'
The dolphins were part of a group of more than 50 that got into difficulty in the Cromarty Firth.
Invergordon, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Suddenly Njord (13) got a tuna on the hook – I was surprised!
The fishing trip to Gaiakulpen in Vesterelva offered a real surprise to friends Njord Lindgård and Tobias Holm (13).
Vesterelv, Nesseby, Troms og Finnmark Fylke, Norway
iFinnmark

Puffins bounce back in spectacular style
The heaviest puffling (baby puffin) ever recorded in Iceland was weighed by scientists in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago recently, and the director of the South Iceland Natural History Institute believes the puffin stock overall may never have been bigger than now. The news comes after many failed breeding seasons since 2000 and worries for the species’ future.
Vestmannaeyjar, South, Iceland
RÚV

Fears oil ship will fall apart
Despite extensive and expensive work last summer to prevent further oil leaks from the Second World War shipwreck El Grillo, in Seyðisfjörður, oil is still leaking into the sea. It is thought the wreck still contains some 10-15 tonnes of oil.
Seyðisfjörður, East, Iceland
RÚV

Mysterious smelly fat blobs pollute West Vancouver beach
District of West Vancouver staff say they cleaned up 40 litres of fat from Ambleside Beach. Vancouver Coastal Health and the province are investigating.
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
North Shore News

Bank erosion putting community water wells and transmission line in danger
Community Water System at Risk: Extreme precipitation throughout the summer and sustained high water has resulted in erosion of the location for the water transmission line and Noatak's two water wells.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Malinda Chase , Max Neale, Chris Dankmeyer, Crane Johnson, John Warren, Paul Walton, Richard L Thoman Jr, Edward "Ted" Smith, Jeffrey Luther, David Beveridge, Joy Britt

Drought-choked Colorado River faces an unprecedented water shortage
Federal officials declared a water shortage for the Hoover Dam’s Lake Mead, the largest water reservoir in the US. It will trigger mandatory water cuts to several western states starting next year.
The Verge

Rare polar bear sighting causes a stir in Kotzebue
Locals in Kotzebue showed a mix of excitement and concern over the weekend in response to reports that a rare polar bear was spotted in the area.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Rare footage shows a polar bear hunt a swimming reindeer
Rare footage shot by a researcher expedition in Norway shows a polar bear hunting and catching a swimming adult reindeer. The video, captured by Mateusz Gruszka, a cook for an expedition of Polish researchers in August 2021 on the Svalbard archipelago, shows the bear catching the reindeer and drowning it before dragging it ashore.
Svalbard Archipelago
ArcticToday

For the second year in row, large numbers of wild reindeer are found dead along Russia's Khatanga River
A state of emergency was declared in mid-August in Khatanga, a small town on the banks of the river of the same name in Russia’s far northern Taymyr Peninsula, after more than 1,200 dead reindeer were found scattered on the river’s banks.
Khatanga, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Heavy Greenland rain event
On August 14, 2021, temperatures rose above freezing on the summit of Greenland, fueling a rain event that dumped 7 billion tons of water—the heaviest since records began in 1950.
Greenland
Twitter

1st live Asian giant 'murder hornet' of 2021 spotted in Washington state
Entomologists confirm the report of the world's largest hornet — a worrisome invasive species that originates from East Asia and Japan — by a person in a rural area near the Canadian border.
Blaine, Washington, United States

2021 Summer Heat Wave in Cranbrook: Low Water Levels in the Philips Reservoir Causing Unusual Water Restrictions to the Community
These prolonged above-normal temperatures required the City of Cranbrook to increase water restrictions to levels not generally experienced by the community. Additionally, during this time (personal experience), the water was discoloured and had an odor, forcing bottled water to ensure safe drinking.
Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

Fire Updates: Smoke Intensifies, River Complex Estimated Containment Date Oct. 1
A handful of fires burning east of Humboldt continued to grow overnight with minimal containment, bringing air quality and travel impacts. Parts of State Route 36 have reopened to controlled traffic. Overall hot, dry conditions are expected to complicate fire suppression efforts.
Junction City, California, United States
North Coast Journal

Dismal Yukon River salmon returns prompt widespread fishing closures, emergency aid — and tough questions
A decades-long decline in salmon in the Yukon River has reached a crisis this year, forcing harvest closures and prompting emergency shipments of salmon from other regions of Alaska to river residents who are otherwise facing food shortages.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

More buildings lost in main B.C. fire as heat wave is set to bake B.C.
The wildfire has now grown to 565 square kilometres in size.
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun

‘River is getting close.’ Erosion is threatening Napakiak's school
The village is losing ground three times faster than it was 10 years ago, according to studies of Napakiak’s erosion. During high tide, the river is only 64 feet from the high-schoolers’ original classroom and gets closer by the day. On windy days, waves crash against the shore where students used to play, battering it until the land relents and crumbles.
Napakiak, Alaska, United States
KTOO

He has lived for 74 years – for the first time the river is dry
Extreme drought in the west means that households with private waterworks are out of water. Elvar's dried up. "The situation is very serious," he says.
Skinlo, Breim, Vestland, Norway

When polar bears hunt snow geese, hunger justifies the means
At this time of year, the geese are moulting — and therefore unable to fly — so they congregate near ponds to avoid the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), which is reluctant to jump into the water. But the bear was about to use a new hunting technique: he dove under the water, disappeared from the eyes of the geese who had stopped fleeing, and emerged from underneath one of them.
Bylot Island, Nunavut Canada
NNSL Media

Dead seabirds wash up on regional shores
Starting last week, regional residents reported numerous dead seabirds washing up on regional beaches. Alaska Sea Grant Agent Gay Sheffield said there were carcasses of murres, puffins, shearwaters and a kittiwake starting on July 28; in Golovin, Solomon, Nome and a dead Little Diomede.
The Nome Nugget

Second year in row, big numbers of wild reindeer calves are found dead along banks of great river Khatanga
Poaching and climate change might be the reasons why more than 1,200 migrating animals did not make it across the wide Arctic waterway.
Khatanga river, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Warmest July on record in north and east
This July was the warmest on record in nearly all of North and East Iceland. The average temperature was above 14°C at several weather stations, and no average monthly temperature in Iceland is ever known to have been higher.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland

Siberia Feels the Brunt of Climate Change as Wildfires Rage
The driest summer in 150 years has turned Yakutia into a tinderbox and seen wildfires tear through the region.
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
The Moscow Times

July was Kotzebue's wettest month on record
The record was driven in part by a heavy rainstorm that set Kotzebue's single-day precipitation record.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Rapid Erosion Exposes Old Landfill
Unusual high water all summer in Noatak, causing massive erosion towards the airport and old buried landfill, exposing old trash into the river.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Max Neale, Paul Walton, David Beveridge, Jeffrey Luther, John Monville, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Crane Johnson, Joy Britt, Chris Dankmeyer, Richard L Thoman Jr

Insect eating red currant leaves
Red currant leaf consumption by something was observed by my supervisor while walking along a salmon stream.
Lazy Mountain, Alaska, United States

Seeing some Worms in Kenai Salmon
About 10% of our catch during dip net fishing at mouth of Kenai River was harboring these worms.
Kenai River, Alaska, United States
Jayde Ferguson, Mike Brubaker, Ian Williams

Smoke may cause unhealthy air quality in Southcentral and Interior Alaska, DEC says
Parts of Interior and Southcentral Alaska will see poor air quality as a result of wildfires this week, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation warned on Tuesday.

North Athens fire ‘out of control,’ traps residents, responders
An unknown number of residents, firefighters and policemen are reportedly trapped between two fronts of a major wildfire in northern Athens that has already destroyed homes in the suburb of Varymbombi and is spreading to Thrakomakedones.
Athens, Attica, Greece
Ekathimerini.com

Kobuk Rain and High-water Flood
After significant rain and high water from the Kobuk River the Native Village of Kobuk is now flooded.
Kobuk, Alaska, United States
Chris Dankmeyer, Crane Johnson, Richard L Thoman Jr, Ida Norton, Virginia Commack, Francine Moreno, Edward "Ted" Smith, David Beveridge, Mary Mullan, Max Neale

Phytoplankton blooms hint at changing Arctic waters
Recent research has found that coccolithophore blooms are occupying increasingly more space in the Barents Sea. Between 1998 and 2016, coccolithophore summer blooms have expanded poleward and their surface area in the Barents Sea has doubled.

Larva of water beetle (Dytiscus)
Tribal member of St. Mary's finds the larva of a predaceous diving beetle.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

The Norwegian Environment Agency is concerned about phosphorus in the mountain Lake Gjende
There are high levels of phosphorus in Gjende, which is located 984 meters above sea level, at the foot of the country's most popular mountain ridge, Besseggen. Phosphorus from the deposition of mud from melting glaciers affect the plankton in the lake. Scientist note that in the stomachs of the thin fish there is little zooplankton.
Gjende, Jotunheimen, Norway
Dag Kessel, Even Lusæter, Lars Erik Skrefsrud, Eilin Spolén Juva

Spittlebugs galore in Sand Lake area
"I am seeing spittlebugs deposits everywhere I look in the Sand Lake area."

Unprecedented salmon declines force fish donations to Alaska’s Yukon River villages
Chum returns are the lowest on record, leaving communities with empty freezers and uncertainty about getting through the winter.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Killer whale stranded on Prince of Wales Island frees itself
A killer whale that beached itself on Prince of Wales Island on Thursday has freed itself, according to federal biologists.
Craig, Alaska, United States

When will Oregon’s heat wave end? 4 Portland weather experts make their predictions
When will the second heat wave round end in the Portland area?
Portland, Oregon, United States
oregonlive

Greenland experienced 'massive' ice melt this week, scientists say
With climate change fueling high temperatures across the Arctic, Greenland lost a massive amount of ice on Wednesday with enough melting to cover the U.S. state of Florida in 2 inches (5.1 centimeters) of water, scientists said. It was the third-biggest ice loss for Greenland in a single day since 1950.
Greenland

Finland's worst wildfire in decades is raging through a northwest forest - ArcticToday
Finland’s worst wildfire in more than half a century scorched the country’s northwest for a fifth day on Friday, tearing through forests left dry by record summer heat.
Pyhäranta, Finland Proper, Finland

30 percent have been bitten
The notorious lúsmý (Culicoides reconditus), a species of biting midge that has colonised Iceland for the first time in the past few years. The tiny flies can cause severe reactions, with large, sore, itchy spots that can remain angry for a week or more, and sometimes spread into a sort of rash.
Húnaþing vestra, Northwestern, Iceland

Tsunami warning canceled after 8.2 offshore earthquake sent people in many Alaska coastal communities to higher ground
The Tsunami Warning Center recorded waves of less than 1 foot above normal as a result of the earthquake.
Chignik, Alaska, United States

Russia's Norilsk sees a heatwave
Residents of the Russian Arctic city of Norilsk spent time in and around Lake Dolgoye on Tuesday, as temperatures in the region soared. The lake is used for water discharge from Norilsk‘s Central Heating and Power Plant No. 1, but was used for swimming on July 27 as the temperature in the city reached 30 degrees Celsius (86 F).
Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

A Fall Storm in the Summer
Unusual mid summer storm in Golovin and local observations about changes in the salmon harvest.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Sea Life Die-Off Found on Beach
"While on a field trip for work, we stopped at the beach and you can notice hundreds of dead clams and star fish littering the beach."
Elim, Alaska, United States
Carol Oliver, Derek Sikes, Leigh Takak, Gay Sheffield, Racheal Lee

Floods, landslides impacting Costa Rica on Friday
The consequences of heavy and persistent rainfall continue to impact Costa Rica on Friday, particularly in the canton of Turrialba and on the Caribbean.
Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica
The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate

Record-breaking rains devastated central China, but there is little talk of climate change
As record heat waves hit western North America and deadly floods swept Germany, the growing risks associated with climate change have grabbed headlines, and prompted widespread discussions in the West.
Henan, China
CNN

Changes in fish size and parasite load of Kasilof sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
"My husband and I have been dipnetting on the Kasilof since 2014. This year we noticed more small fish than usual and all but ~5 of the 35 fish we caught had parasites."
Kasilof, Alaska, United States

B.C.'s heat wave may be to blame for several cases of shellfish poisoning
Several people have fallen ill with food poisoning after eating shellfish in B.C. in the last 10 days, and health officials are warning that warm ocean waters might be to blame.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Coast Guard rescues man after being pounced, stalked by grizzly
By Julia Lerner Richard Jessee, a longtime summer miner, survived an aggressive bear attack near his cabin last week.

Coyote bites another Stanley Park jogger a week after 4 of the animals put down
The BC Conservation Officer Service said the latest attack happened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night, while a woman was jogging along the seawall.
West End, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

Decline in and delayed salmon on the Skeena River
In recent years, we have observed the salmon arriving at our territory along the Skeena River later than normal and in fewer numbers. The total number of wild sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) returning to the Skeena River have decreased by 69% in comparison to historical stocks.
Gwax Ts'eliksit, British Columbia, Canada
Kristen Davis, Tom Okey, David Oswald, Cody Thomas

'Unprecedented' absence of southern resident killer whales from Salish Sea
The most common pod of southern resident killer whales who migrate to the Salish Sea during the summer have not been seen for than 100 days, marking a highly unusual absence from their historic summer hunting ground, according to researchers.
Salish Sea
Vancouver Island

Bristol Bay’s Nushagak District is seeing a record-setting sockeye salmon run
Tim Sands, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game area management biologist, said he is hopeful the strong run throughout Bristol Bay will continue next year.
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Veterinarians of the village of Providence "resuscitated" the exhausted walrus
The female aroused interest among local residents. Specialists suggested that scars on its body could mean that it was attacked by an orca; the walrus hauled out a few days after a group of walruses had been trapped by orcas. After treatment, the walrus left the shore.
Provideniya, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Chukotka

Caterpillars on Kesugi Ridge
Hikers on Kesugi Ridge observe a large abundance of Rusty Tussock Caterpillars all over cairns marking the trail from Coal Creek to Byre's Lake. They swarmed on the hiker's bodies and packs and from a distance covered structures to the point where they looked black.
Chase, Alaska, United States
Jessie Moan, Carl Roland, Kendra Wissel, Adrienne Fleek, Sarah Stehn

‘It’s a nightmare’: 300 wildfires blaze, another evacuation order issued as southern B.C. still parched
As of Monday, some 300 wildfire were burning across British Columbia. Thirty-seven blazes, 12 per cent of all B.C. fires, are rated as highly visible or a threat to life or property. Several new evacuation orders and alerts were posted over the weekend by regional governments across B.C.’s southern Interior.
British Columbia, Canada

Siberian wildfire smoke causes hazy skies in Southcentral Alaska
The haze is expected to subside by the middle of next week, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Extended Range into the St. Lawrence Region
Double-crested cormorants have been observed in the St Lawrence River region, with record-breaking numbers, in recent years.
Gananoque, Ontario, Canada

'Stay away from Maaseik' as dyke threatens to break, mayor warns
As experts are expecting that the water level of the Meuse river will continue to rise until noon and the water has starting flowing over the dyke, the mayor of Maaseik in the Limburg province urged people to stay away.
Maaseik, Limburg, Belgium
The Brussels Times

Opah on the Oregon Coast
On July 14, a rare 100-pound opah fish was found on the Oregon coast. The 3.5 foot 100 pound fish washed up at Sunset Beach, and was reported to the Seaside Aquarium.
Sunset Beach, Oregon, United States
WRAL.com

Blue mussel die-off in Skagway
"The first wave of dead mussels washed ashore on July 14th, possibly earlier but this was the first report we received. I took the pictures included in my LEO observation on July 16th, and the temperatures were only just then beginning to climb into the upper 70s and lower 80s."
Skagway, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Mandy Lindeberg, Reuben Cash

Beaver dam outburst floods prompt effort to protect Richardson Highway
Alaska transportation officials believe there’s a low risk that anyone could be harmed in an outburst, but they say they’re acting swiftly to prevent another road closure.
Paxson, Alaska, United States

Thousands evacuated after floods devastate homes and towns
Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, is in shock. Entire municipalities there have been evacuated, including Heimerzheim, a town of 6,000.
North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
DW.COM

Air quality statements expand throughout Alberta as heat wave continues
Air quality concerns have extended across the foothills and west-central Alberta including Calgary and surrounding areas.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary

Invasive seaweed detected on Aotea/Great Barrier Island
Caulerpa brachypus, which can spread rapidly and create dense mats, was found in July in Blind Bay and Tryphena Harbour. This was the first time the pest species had been detected in New Zealand.
Great Barrier Island
NZ Herald

Extreme heat could kill nearly all young salmon in the Sacramento River, officials say
As temperatures near and surpass triple digits, many reservoirs in California's Central Valley have diverted more water to cities and farmers during the drought, making rivers shallower and too hot for the fish to develop from eggs, a process which can take at least 60 days to complete. To combat the poor river conditions in the Central Valley, some fish preservation organizations have tried to save the salmon population by launching large scale trucking operations to transport millions of salmon to the San Pablo Bay, San Francisco Bay and other fish farms where they are more likely to survive.
Sacramento, California, United States
CNN

West Coast drought puts fish and forests in dire straits
West Coast fish and forests are in greater peril than ever as the B.C. government issues widespread drought warnings after a record-breaking heat wave and an explosion of wildfires across the province.
Vancouver Island

'Unprecedented:' Rare sei whales spotted off Vancouver Island
Researchers on an expedition 300 kilometers west of Vancouver Island stumbled upon a group of 25-30 endangered sei whales.
300 kms West of Vancouver Island, Canada
CHEK

N.W.T. has now detected mosquito borne viruses
Of the 92 pools of mosquitoes tested, 30 had at least one mosquito that tested positive for California serogroup viruses. There has been one confirmed diagnosis of meningoencephalitis — a severe neurological condition — caused by the snowshoe hare virus. There have been no positive cases yet of West Nile Virus.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

At Least 600 Tons Of Dead Fish Have Washed Up Along Tampa Bay's Shore
The hordes of fish were killed by a red tide, a large "bloom" of toxic algae that appears on Florida's Gulf Coast about once a year. Experts say the bloom shouldn't be happening right now.
Tampa, Florida, United States
NPR.org

Environment Canada issues air quality warning for Nunavik
Active fires in northeastern Ontario and eastern Manitoba are expected to send smoke across northern Quebec today and Wednesday, Environment Canada said in a special air quality statement posted for each of the region’s 14 communities.
Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada

Permafrost is ablaze with hundreds of wildfires in world’s coldest region
Wildfires on permafrost are ravaging Yakutia - or the Sakha Republic - the largest and coldest entity of the Russian Federation. The scale is mesmerizing. There are some 300 separate fires, now covering 12,140 square kilometers - but only around half of these are being tackled, because they pose a threat to people. The rest are burning unchecked.
Sakha, Russia
Siberian Times

Unusual Arctic thunderstorms spark rare lightning strikes in Northern Alaska
Thunderstorms in Northern Alaska over sea ice on Monday sparked rare lightning strikes. The Washington Post reported lightning strikes occurred north of Prudhoe Bay, directly over sea ice, a rare phenomena that occurs once or twice a decade.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Rabid bat discovered in Toronto's High Park
A bat in High Park tested positive for rabies on Wednesday, according to Toronto Public Health.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Maine Has a Dangerous, Small, and Very Itchy Problem
Climate change is keeping temperatures higher in the fall, setting up browntail-moth caterpillars to boom in summer. Their hairs are barbed and hollow and there’s a reservoir of a toxin inside.
Portland, Maine, United States
The Atlantic

Low Abundance of Fish Harms Norton Sound’s Commercial Fishing Season
The prospects are dim for this summer’s Norton Sound commercial fishing and crabbing seasons.
KNOM Radio Mission

Volcanic Gases Cause Haze and Breathing Issues
Gases from the ongoing eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula may lead to fewer sunny days this summer, Vísir reports. Eruption gases have been creating a haze in the capital area in recent days and causing discomfort for people with asthma or other lung conditions. Air quality specialist Þorsteinn Jóhannsson says locals should get into the […]
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Evacuation order issued for Chena Hot Springs area as wildfire grows to nearly 20,000 acres
As of Monday evening, no structures had been damaged in the Munson Creek Fire, which was less than a half mile from the popular resort.
Pleasant Valley, Alaska, United States

Air quality poor in parts of B.C. as more than 200 wildfires burn across province
Air quality alerts remain in place for several areas in B.C.'s southern Interior on Tuesday as more than 200 wildfires continue to burn through hundreds of square kilometres of the province.
Thompson-Nicola J, British Columbia, Canada

Exceptional heat takes toll on berries, other crops
An extended period of hot, dry weather is affecting the harvest outlook and impacting grain growth. Even the wild berry season, which was off to a good start, may be in peril.
Kullaa, Satakunta, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Such was the temperature in July
It's been a hot July. In fact, it was the 10th warmest in 120 years.
Lakselv, Troms og Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Whitehorse residents warned not to feed wildlife after black bear killed in Riverdale
After a black bear was shot dead in her front yard, a Whitehorse resident is concerned that people are inadvertently luring bears into the neighbourhood by feeding wildlife.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

‘Pure hell’: Cyprus hit by worst forest fire in decades
Deadly blaze that killed four people and forced evacuation of 10 villages is now close to being under control
Arakapás, Limassol, Cyprus
the Guardian

Finland braces for renewed warm, dry spell as Lapland sees record temperatures
Lapland was Finland's hottest region on Monday with a measuring station in the village of Utsjoki recording 33.5 degrees celsius. A high-pressure front dominating Central and Eastern Europe is behind the drought and high temperature readings.
Utsjoki, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

There's a lot of flies in the mountains and heat, but there are things you can do to cope
Millions of small black flies have taken over mountains and hiking trails. "I thought it was horrible," says Pernille Frøskeland.
Skrovtinden, Reipå, Nordland, Norway
Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen, Emma Skau Solås

Continued river warnings in north
According to police sources, flow in the region’s swollen rivers dropped slightly overnight, but that this is likely explained because the air temperature usually drops overnight. Flow is expected to increase again today.
Hjalteyri, Northeast, Iceland

Strange Plant found below Oskawalik on the Kuskokwim River
An Aniak resident found these plants below Oskawalik and never have seen them before. Identification is still in progress.
Below Oskawalik, Alaska, United States

Number of deaths recorded during B.C.'s heat wave up to 808, coroners say
The number of deaths recorded across British Columbia during the province's recent record-breaking heat wave has climbed to 808, according to coroners.
CTV News

‘Our poor little town’: Village at center of Canada’s heat wave devastated by wildfires
Lytton, British Columbia, broke successive Canadian heat records early this week, with temperatures peaking at 121 degrees on Tuesday. Then the fires swept in.
Lytton, British Columbia, Canada

European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) in Northwest, BC
A European Skipper butterfly is observed in Northwest BC, an introduced species and one of several stressors underlying insect declines.
Smithers, British Columbia, Canada

B.C. heat wave 'cooks' fruit crops on the branch in sweltering Okanagan and Fraser valleys
Farmers are trying to salvage their cherry crops following damage from a week of extreme temperatures. Cherry crops in the BC Interior have been burned due to the extreme temperatures brought by the heat wave at the end of June.
Peachland, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver trees dry out as heat wave continues to take its toll
British Columbia's unprecedented heat wave and drought-like conditions may be what is causing some Vancouver trees to shed their leaves this week, a scientist says.

Landslide Damages Two Houses in North Iceland
No one was injured in a landslide that occurred yesterday in Varmahlíð, North Iceland, though two houses sustained significant damage. Nine homes on four different streets in the town have been evacuated. The evacuation will remain in force until after the region’s local Civil Protection and Emergency Management Committee meets this morning to assess the […]
Varmahlíð, Northwest, Iceland

Fort Smith had its hottest day in 80 years: preliminary data
Preliminary data from Environment Canada shows Fort Smith, N.W.T., hit 39.9 C on Wednesday, breaking 1941 record.
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada

Downstream Erosion after Heavy Rain in Brooks Range
Photos show some of the erosion caused by surge of high water in late June on the Noatak River. As of June 29th, 24 feet of bank have been lost adjacent to the Noatak Airport, and 28 feet adjacent to the landfill.
Jeffrey Luther, Edward "Ted" Smith, Richard L Thoman Jr, Paul Walton, Crane Johnson, Joy Britt, John Monville, Chris Dankmeyer

For 3rd straight day, B.C. village smashes record for highest Canadian temperature at 49.6 C
Lytton, B.C., has broken the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada for a third straight day, hitting a scorching 49.6 C on Tuesday.
Lytton, British Columbia, Canada

Intertidal life after significant heat wave
In Malahat Drive in BC, an extraordinary heat wave, combined with low tides during the middle of the day resulted in the die off of possibly billions of intertidal invertebrates along the coast of British Columbia and Washington State.
Malahat Drive

Unprecedented Heat Wave in the Bow Valley
While seasonal fluctuation is normal, there is evidence that this region is being strongly affected by climate change. The Municipality of Canmore’s Climate Change Adaptation Background Report and Resilience Plan (2016) shows that there has been a warming trend that is moving faster than the global average with the average annual temperature of the Bow Valley increasing.
Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Heat wave linked to sudden deaths in western Canada as temperature hits 121 in B.C. town
Environment Canada said the weather system shattered more than 100 heat records across British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Lytton, British Columbia, Canada

Southwest Alaska community on Bering Sea coast experiences severe flooding
Kwigillingok, a community on the Bering Sea coast of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, is used to some flooding during high tides. But in recent years, that flooding has grown more severe, reaching a new threshold last week.
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

Wildfires begin blazing in wake of record-breaking heat across Washington
Wildfires have already begun to take hold across Washington in the wake of record heat both east and west of the Cascades. Responders are currently battling a 31-square-mile fire in Adams County, after getting sparked in the town of Lind on Sunday morning. The fast-moving brush fire has been threatening homes and vital infrastructure.
Lind, Washington, United States
MyNorthwest.com

Seattle already set a record high temperature Sunday; Monday’s forecast is ‘unheard of’
For the first time in Seattle’s history, temperatures spiked above 100 degrees two days in a row, with residents scrambling to find relief — and flocking to beaches, parks and...
Seattle, Washington, United States

Extreme heat cooks shellfish alive on Puget Sound beaches
A record-shattering heat wave June 26-28 coincided with some of the year's lowest tides on Puget Sound. The combination was lethal for millions of mussels, clams, oysters, sand dollars, barnacles, sea stars, moon snails, and other tideland creatures exposed to three afternoons of intense heat.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
KUOW

Erosion impacting wells and transmission line
River erosion in Noatak is posing a threat to wells and transmission lines along the bank as the river ebbs closer.
John Monville, Chris Dankmeyer, Joy Britt, Jeffrey Luther, Paul Walton

Coast Guard responds to tar-like substance spill on Utqiagvik beach
Officials are still examining the substance in a lab to determine what it is, but DEC suspects it’s black tar or asphalt.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Wesley Early, Alaska's Energy Desk - Kotzebue

Flood Level on Takhini River
"River is running bank full with all gravel bars and low islands underwater."

Halibut fisherman weathers freak storm on trip back from Togiak
Westfall thanked his training with the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association to help him maximize his odds for survival.

Flood warning in Carmacks docks the 2021 River Quest
The Yukon River Quest has been cancelled for the second year in a row. When the river is high like that the banks are being eroded, there is no place to pull out so if you do have a problem it's really dangerous indeed.
Carmacks, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Thousands of lightning strikes spark more than a dozen wildfires in Northwest Alaska
On Tuesday night, the state of Alaska saw thousands of lightning strikes. “Most of the 3,800 lightning strikes were concentrated in the Northwest Arctic,” said BLM Alaska Fire Service spokeswoman Beth Ipsen. There are several communities in close proximity to new fires.
Wesley Early, Alaska's Energy Desk - Kotzebue

UN weather agency affirms 2020 Arctic heat record in Siberia
The agency said it has certified a 100.4-degree reading in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk last year as the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic.
Verkhoyansk, Sakha, Russia

Lymantria dispar dispar outbreak
Lymantria dispar dispar also known as spongy moth was observed in Waterloo Ontario to be in unusually large quantities during the summer of 2021.
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Record-setting heat blasts the West: ‘Your skin is almost sizzling’
Fueled by climate change, the heat wave is unprecedented in its timing, intensity and scope. Coupled with a catastrophic drought that has damaged crops and shrunk vital reservoirs to all-time lows, the blazing weather is a trademark of human-caused warming.
Sacramento, California, United States
The Washington Post

Kuskokwim River Chum Run Extremely Low So Far
The Kuskokwim River king salmon run does not look particularly strong this year, but chum numbers look even worse. Historically, around 60% of the salmon in the river at this point in the season would be chum or sockeye, but right now Bethel Test Fishery numbers show that just over 20% of the salmon are.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Burn ban issued for Kenai Peninsula
High-fire danger prompts burn ban this week, A burn suspension is in effect for the Kenai Peninsula due to high fire danger, high fire activity and limited firefighting resources, according to a special notice from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Coldest June night in 43 years
The temperature in Akureyri last night dropped to -1°C, the coldest night this late in June since 1978—or 43 years ago.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland

Deadly Flash Floods in Department of Sololá, Guatemala
Heavy rainfall caused the Quibá river to overflow in the village of Guineales, municipality of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán in Sololá department.
Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá, Guatemala
FloodList

Red rust on endemic roses
My unprofessional opinion is that climate change is affecting these endemic roses and that they are in peril.

Tiny insects ate the needles off a half million acres of Tongass hemlocks. Most of the trees will be fine.
Dead crowns in the canopy and rusty-colored branches are woven in with the otherwise healthy, green temperate rainforest. About a third of the trees around here were hit by the voracious sawfly. The larvae get mistaken for caterpillars. Adults are a kind of non-stinging wasp, a little smaller than a pinky finger.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Russia’s largest and coldest region is on fire - again, and this year wildfires strike early
Even school children are in firefighting brigades in some areas of Yakutia.
Srednekolymsk, Sakha, Russia
Siberian Times

Tiny worm comes back to life after 24,000 years in Siberian deep freeze
A microscopic organism has wriggled back to life and reproduced asexually after lying frozen in the vast permafrost lands of northeastern Siberia for 24,000 years. Russian scientists found the tiny, ancient animal called the bdelloid rotifer in soil taken from the Alazeya River basin, in the far north of Russia’s Yakutia region.

Paralytic Shellfish Toxin Advisory
The Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research program found that all shellfish species in Settler's Cove and Seaport Beach in Ketchikan and Starrigavan North beach in Sitka are affected by high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin, posing the risk of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning for consumers.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Southeast Tribal Ocean Research

Abnormal abundance of ticks
My colleague who has been doing this work for over 35 years indicated that he has never experienced that many ticks.
Scott Road Landfill (near Cardinal)
Chyna Williams, Andrea Sare, David Oswald

Mysterious black substance on Wells Beach turns out to be millions of dead bugs
The black substance was staining the feet of people at the beach, prompting one local resident to alert state officials.
Wells Beach Station, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Rapid permafrost thaw expected in N.W.T., Yukon after heat wave, experts warn
The heat wave sweeping through the N.W.T. and Yukon will have a major impact on permafrost thaw in both territories, experts warn.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Large wildfire breaks out in Cairngorms National Park
The blaze in forestry south of Loch Morlich near Aviemore has now been extinguished.
Kincraigy, Donegal, Ireland
BBC News

Low king counts to close Anchor River, Deep Creek to fishing
“The midpoint of the Anchor River king salmon run was extremely late. These fish are really having some odd, unprecedented run timing and behavior."
Kasilof, Alaska, United States

Elephant herd now close to Kunming
A herd of wild Asian elephants that left Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in the south of Yunnan province last year is still moving northward, local media reported on Wednesday. The 15-member herd has traveled nearly 500 kilometers from its original habitat. Experts said the move northward is unusual and they do not know the reason for it.
Kunming, Yunnan, China

Tick found on dog on Anchorage Hillside
An unidentified tick was found on the nose of a dog in the backyard of a home in south Anchorage. Neither the family nor their pet had been traveling recently. The identification of the tick species is pending.

'This is what we've been waiting for': Calgarians embrace first heat wave of the season
Much of Alberta remained under a heat warning Wednesday but after months cooped up indoors, many Calgarians are embracing the warm weather.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary

Heat records broken in 10 places in B.C. so far this week
Environment Canada says records were broken in 10 places Tuesday - from 29 C in Fort Nelson, just edging a record set in 1961 - to 34.6 C in Trail, and highs ranging from 27 to the low 30s in Sechelt, Gibsons, Clinton, Merritt, Pemberton, Princeton and the Malahat on Vancouver Island.
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia

Karuk Tribe Declares Climate Emergency
The Karuk Tribe has declared a climate emergency as the Klamath River Basin has seen the worst conditions in history with very low precipitation and...
Yreka, California, United States

Orca found dead after earlier stranding on island north of Auckland
The whale had earlier been spotted stranded.
Auckland, New Zealand
NZ Herald

State of emergency declared in Aklavik, N.W.T., as flood waters rise
The remote community of roughly 600 people has been on flood watch for about a week and is the latest of several communities in the Northwest Territories to be affected by historic flooding on the Mackenzie River, caused by the spring breakup.
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Blue-green Algae Makes an Early Appearance
Anyone visiting lakes or rivers in the region is being cautioned to look out for blue-green algae after the Blue Lake Rancheria confirmed levels of...
Blue Lake, California, United States

Gambell gets distemper outbreak under control
The community of Gambell fought a distemper outbreak among its dog population this spring and managed to squash the epidemic in its early onset. Distemper is a deadly disease that can afflict dogs and wildlife alike and also has been documented in the North Atlantic to jump from dogs to marine mammals like seals.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Beluga whale found dead south of Anchorage will help scientists better understand the endangered animals
The beluga had a ruptured intestine probably related to parasites, which were found in the whale’s abdomen, lungs and kidneys, Burek said. The parasites likely led to an entanglement within a section of the intestines, leading it to rupture. “Very unusual,” Burek said. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Red bloom in bay isn’t harmful
However, if ingested by oysters and other shellfish, the sudden burst of a ciliate form of zooplankton — or animal plankton — called Mesodinium rubrum could turn their meat pink.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Turkey struck by ‘sea snot’ because of global heating
Increasing blanket of mucus-like substance in water threatens coral and fishing industry
Sea of Marmara
the Guardian

Dump burning leads to wildfire
Dry spring conditions and strong winds are allowing a burn at the dump to grow near Pilot Point. Fire crews are dropping suppressant and 12 smokejumpers worry working the fire estimated at 250 acres as of Monday night.
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States

Smokejumpers deployed to wildfire threatening fish camp, allotments on Kuskokwim River near Akiachak
The Alaska Division of Forestry deployed 12 smokejumpers on an estimated 100-acre wildfire burning near the village of Akiachak in southwest Alaska Tuesday afternoon to protect a fish camp and Native allotments surrounding the fire.
Akiachak, Alaska, United States
AK Fire Info

Pilot Point wildfire grows to 500 acres, but village safe from danger
The Alaska Division of Forestry said the wildfire that is burning land near the village of Pilot Point in Southwest Alaska has grown to about 500 acres, but the village is safe from any immediate danger.
Pilot Station, Alaska, United States

Dozens of bear paws, their claws removed, dumped roadside next to Shuswap Lake
Brandi Hansen, a longtime hunter and outdoorswoman, found the paws across the lake from Salmon Arm between Scotch Creek and Anglemont, they were dumped by a culvert, although some had been dragged to the road and scattered, likely by other animals. Hansen suspects poachers are to blame.
Sicamous, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Probably the world's northernmost observed narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth
Tine Aastrøm Lorentzen was on a trip in Rana and noticed what she thought was a bumblebee, but it was suspiciously silent. "It looked like a crossover of a bumblebee and a butterfly. I studied it more closely and found that I had to film this, because I had never seen anything like this before," she tells NRK. The latin name of that insect is *Hemaris tityus.*
Sjona, Rana, Nordland, Norway

The ice-breaking began on the Little Anyyu River near the village of Ostrovsky
This year the situation is complicated by unfavorable hydrological forecasts due to heavy winter precipitation. Experts observed the maximum amount of snow in the upper reaches of the Anadyr River.
Ваеги, Анадырский район, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Prochukotku

Wildfire Alert Phase Spreads to Southeast Iceland
A wildfire alert is now in effect across roughly half of Iceland following weeks of dry weather and fires across the Southwest quadrant of the country.
Iceland

Roman Kopin ordered to investigate the case of mass shooting of birds in the district
A photo of a hunter posing against the background of the inscription "Chukotka 2021," laid out from dozens of killed geese and ducks, caused an active discussion in the district's social networks.
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Prochukotku

Man mauled by bear off Richardson Highway near Gulkana in Southcentral Alaska
The 61-year-old man was flown to an Anchorage hospital for treatment of his injuries, troopers said.
Gulkana, Alaska, United States

This giant mosquito attracts attention – Never seen such a mosquito
As the weather gets warmer, the mosquito comes to life. Also in North Norway. But when Frank Pedersen enjoyed himself in the sun on 17 May, he was "attacked" by a mosquito he has never seen in Nordland before. It was Great house mosquito, Culiseta annulata.
Skarberget, Narvik, Nordland, Norway

Late flight birds arrive this year are observed by scientists of the National Park "Beringia"
Scientists from Beringia National Park noted that several species of migratory birds, including snow buntings and cranes, are arriving later than expected this year. They believe this is due to a large amount of snow cover and prolonged snow cover.
Prochukotku

Mouse Plague 'For every one that died, 10 more were coming in for the funeral' — agony of the plague that came to stay
Farmer Adam Macrae says it felt like thousands of mice descended on his Coonamble property almost overnight a few months back and since then he has spent tens of thousands trying to fight them. But they're still there.
Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia
ABC

Hunt opens for musk ox stranded on ice floes
The musk ox were stranded on the ice floes after wandering onto the sea ice during breakup.
Mekoryuk, Alaska, United States

Buckland hit with heavy flooding from river ice break-up
An ice jam caused by warming spring temperatures near the village of Buckland has left most of the town underwater and cut off access to the airport road. Residents of the village of about 400 people are preparing to evacuate by boat if water levels continue to rise.
Buckland, Alaska, United States
KOTZ Radio 720 AM

Lake Tahoe's waters are so low now, some boats can't be launched
Barring significant precipitation this summer, Lake Tahoe's water level is on track to reach a critical low.
Tahoe City, California, United States
SFGATE

Finland sees summer temperatures on spring's warmest day
For example, Espoo's district of Nuuksio recorded 24.8 degrees celsius (77 F) on Tuesday. Many people across the country took advantage of the warm temperatures and headed outdoors with some opting to go swimming in lakes or pools.
Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

The Swallows Are Here!
Swallow populations are fluctuating as the environment changes. In 2016, the Alaska Songbird Institute began studying changes in swallow populations and formed the Alaska Swallow Monitoring Network. This is an opportunity for participation for community members to participate in a structured monitoring program.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Aerial views of Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River after flooding forces evacuations
Floods, caused by spring river break-up on the Liard and Mackenzie Rivers, have forced residents of the N.W.T. communities of Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River to evacuate. CBC's Eden Maury surveyed both communities from the air on May 10.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada

Brush Fires Break Out in Bone Dry Capital Area
Firefighters put out brush fires in Hafnarfjörður and Reykjavík May 9th, while police responded to several other reports of open flames.Weather has been unseasonably dry in Iceland’s capital area in recent weeks and in other parts of the country.
Reykjavík, Capital, Iceland

Coyote (Canis latrans) at Rabbit Creek
Coyotes, first documented in Anchorage around 1900, are not often seen in Anchorage. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates coyote population abundance using the Trapper Questionnaire reports, and consider the Kenai Peninsula, Copper River Valley and Mat-Su Valley to have the highest coyote population densities.

Bird flu found in the wild after Sweden saw its worst ever outbreak
Wild pheasants and mallards have tested positive for avian influenza this summer, an unusual find according to the National Veterinary Institute.
Sweden
Radio Sweden

700 people in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., displaced by flood, mayor says
"There's basically people all over the place," Fort Simpson, N.W.T., Mayor Sean Whelly said on Monday morning. A general evacuation order was issued for the community of about 1,200 at about 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada

'The people are fine. Our little community is not': Communities deal with flooding along Mackenzie River
CBC News hasn't been able to reach people in Jean Marie River on Saturday, but Paul Simon was able to find cell phone service on a drive and posted photos of the flood waters on social media.
Jean Marie River, Northwest Territories, Canada

Deceased gray whale washes ashore along Klipsan Beach
A long-deceased adult gray whale washed ashore near Klipsan Beach last week.
Klipsan Beach, Washington, United States
Chinook Observer

Thawing Permafrost and Subsidence Causing On-going Water System Challenges
Multiple buildings and homes, including the Point Lay clinic, were without water. The water main break was a result of the water main sinking down further into the permafrost.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States
Vladimir Romanovsky, Benjamin Jones, Anna Liljedahl , Russell Cameron

Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus) in Kasitsna Bay
A decomposing sleeper shark was found on the beach in Kasitsna Bay.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim , Chyna Williams, Gay Sheffield

New Arrival - Speckle Belly Geese (Anser albifrons)
A flock of Speckle Belly geese re-visit Seldovia.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Abnormal growth on Inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys)
A tumor is present on the lower jaw of the sheefish (*Stenodus leucichthys*).
Nunam Iqua, Alaska, United States
Jayde Ferguson, Erica Lujan, Jeremy Fitka

Dust Devil at Ringerike: Never seen anything like this
"It seemed like a normal day. It just showed up," says Torolv Røberg about the weather phenomenon. The dust devil was at least 100 meters high.
Steinssletta, Ringerike, Norway
Anders Wam Bjerkeseth, Laila Nguyen Engebretsen

Blue whale beaches in Africa for the 'first time ever'
The 60 ft blue whale carcass drifted ashore near Walvis Bay, Namibia on Tuesday. Local authorities were alerted and are planning to move the body, which had several injuries.
Namibia
Mail Online

Sudden Snowstorm Out of Nowhere
From 10:45am until 11:50am a sudden flurry of snow came and went on an otherwise warm spring day.
Sutton-Alpine, Alaska, United States

300 reindeer found dead in Kamchatka
Because of the changeable weather an ice crust arose on the snow and reindeer could not get food on their own. Reindeer herders fed the main herd with compound feed. The dead reindeer, most likely, have strayed from the main herd.
Tigil’, Kamtsjatka, Russia
Reindeerherding.org

70-year-old Texas man dies after being attacked by aggressive swarm of bees while mowing his lawn
A Texas man died after going into cardiac arrest when he was attacked by an aggressive swarm of bees outside his home, authorities said. Thomas Hicks, 70, was mowing his lawn Monday when he was repeatedly stung by the bees outside his home in Breckenridge.
Breckenridge, Texas, United States
KTLA

Survey Of Ocean Floor Between Los Angeles, Catalina Island Finds 27,000 Suspected Barrels Of DDT
Scientists have confirmed the existence of a DDT dump site in the waters off the coast of Southern California, and it’s even bigger than they had anticipated.
Southern Coast of California
MSN

A Massive Methane Reservoir Is Lurking Beneath the Sea
“The big finding was that we really have something that’s coming out from a deep pool,” said Steinbach. As the permafrost thaws, it opens up new pathways that allow methane to pass through.
Laptev Sea
Eos

As the Caspian Sea Disappears, Life Goes on for Those Living by Its Shores
Scientists predict the world’s largest inland sea will shrink by a quarter due to climate change by the end of the century. In Derbent, waves that once threatened to engulf entire streets have retreated by around 100 meters, leaving miles of fresh sand dunes up and down the former shoreline.
Derbent, Dagestan, Russia
The Moscow Times

Wildfire infernos in Western Siberia as drivers in Novosibirsk region report zero visibility
Omsk region reported ‘record high’ number of wildfires and cases of dry grass burning, that turn into wildfires this spring, with one day last week counting nearly a thousand new events a day. Omsk region emergency services said the number of wildfires is seven to ten times above the norm.
Omsk, Omsk, Russia

State watching rabies attacks, new strain potential issue
A recent spate of attacks on humans and pets by foxes in Topsham may be in part due to a new strain of rabies. As of April 18, there have been five such attacks in Topsham this year. State Veterinarian Michele Walsh theorizes a rabies strain more associated with raccoons has begun infecting gray foxes.
Topsham, Maine, United States
Press Herald

‘Everyone Loses’: The Government Is Rationing Water at the California-Oregon Border
A major drought has forced farmers and Indigenous tribes to compete for water in a situation nobody ever wanted.
Lakeview, Oregon, United States
Vice

Landslides deemed "significant" but pose no danger to village in Arctic Quebec
Two landslides near the village of Kuujjuaraapik in Arctic Quebec have been deemed "significant" by authorities but pose no immediate danger to the community. The events happened on Thursday and affected a thick clay soil zone near the village.
Kuujjuarapik, Quebec, Canada
Eye on the Arctic

Scientists Assess Risk of Thaw Settlement in Permafrost Regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
This research provides a scientific reference for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering facilities in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Mirage News

Washed up - euphausiid shrimp on area beach
Thousands of euphausiid shrimp, the species identified here in Resurrection Bay as Thysanoessa spinifera. were washed into the intertidal zone and on the beach near Whittier
Whittier, Alaska, United States
Gary Freitag, Melissa Good, Amy Holman, Sunny Rice, Tuula Hollmen, Julie Matweyou, Kris Holderied, Richard Hocking

5th dead whale found in less than month near San Francisco Bay
The carcass of a 41-foot adult female gray whale landed at San Francisco’s Crissy Field on March 31. A second adult female was found April 3 at Moss Beach in San Mateo County. A third was found April 7 floating near the Berkeley Marina and the following day another at Muir Beach. A video of the fifth dead whale was posted on social media Friday.
San Francisco, California, United States
Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Two dogs get sick after Chilkoot visits
An unknown substance near the Chilkoot River made dogs sick twice this month. The pet owners had to make their animals vomit and the dogs needed
Lutak, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

From Iceland — 50 Geese Have Died Due To Unknown Circumstances
This weekend, 50 white-fronted geese were found dead in Hvalnes in Lón and in Suðurfjörður, Fréttablaðið reports. An announcement from...
Djúpivogur, East, Iceland
The Reykjavik Grapevine

YKHC Urges Pets Get Rabies Vaccines After Rabid Foxes Found
Three foxes from three Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities have tested positive for rabies in recent weeks.
Nightmute, Alaska, United States

Melting Arctic ice reduces bowhead whale migration
Researchers in Canada find that population did not bother making the 6,000km roundtrip in 2018-2019
Bearing, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas
the Guardian

Man throws rabid bobcat after it attacks him and his wife
Happy Wade jumped into action when he saw the wild animal clawing and biting at his wife, Kristi. Both are currently being treated for rabies.
Burgaw, North Carolina, United States
KHOU

Fearing bird flu: Fisherman found 30 dead birds in three weeks
Odd Sørensen discovered this dead whooper swan on 10 April. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has received daily reports of dead birds and are asking the public to help report bird mortality in particular with ducks, geese, swans, seagulls, eagles, buzzards, crowd and ravens.
Kjerringholmen, Fredrikstad, Viken, Norway

Bees emerging in Fairbanks
European Honey Bee a.k.a Western Honey Bee (apis mellifera) spotted with 2 feet of snow still on the ground.
College, Alaska, United States
Katie Spellman, Ian Williams, Chyna Williams

Windy March Storms in Wales Cause Concern for Future
March brought a series of storms across the Seward Peninsula, and in one Bering Strait community that meant a series of power outages. The storms are stronger than residents recall in the past.
Wales, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Heavy snow showers replaced by mild weather and rain - violent flooding feared
On Wednesday, 17 centimetres of fresh snow fell and at its peak 127 centimetres of snow depth was recorded at the Meteorological Institute in Tromsø on the night of Thursday. But during the night, the snow stopped and turned into large amounts of rain.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
Nordlys

Urban tree damage in Montreal
Trees in urban residential areas seem to be more prone to damage because of an increase in windstorms and because of maintenance work, which has weakened trees.
Saint-Léonard, Quebec, Canada

Here's how Labrador Inuit are leading the way by adapting to the curveballs of climate change
Mitigations and adaptations to climate change within Nunatsiavut are multiplying, but all share one element: they're being led locally.
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

44 percent increase in unique ships entering Canada's Northwest Passage, says report
The number of ships entering Canada's Northwest Passage, and the distances sailed, are all increasing, says a new report from the Arctic Council.
Eye on the Arctic

'Another dust bowl': Klamath Basin growers say 2021 water shortage will have lasting impacts
Both the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Agriculture announced monetary assistance for the Klamath Project on Wednesday, but the funding comes in lieu of water for irrigation.
Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States
KDRV News

Warm temperatures, precipitation prompt avalanches in downtown Juneau
Avalanche danger is considerable in Juneau due to warming temperatures. Several large slides have occurred on Mt. Juneau in close proximity to residential areas.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Research Shows Predators May Be Large Factor In Decreased King Salmon Size
The size of king salmon returning to Western Alaska rivers to spawn has been decreasing over the past few decades. Researchers at the University of Alaska

Scotland records coldest April night in eight years
Many parts of Scotland had snow over the weekend, including the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, with low temperatures across much of the country. Temperatures dipped to -9.4C overnight at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands.
Dunbeath, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Over 1,000 families flee Davao del Norte floods
At least 1,130 families in some villages in Santo Tomas town in Davao del Norte were displaced by flash floods early morning of April 11, 2021. The Santo Tomas LGU, together with these three affected barangay (villages), are set to discuss the reoccurring flooding issue attributed to the various drainage canals or the lack of them.
New Visayas, Davao, Philippines
The Manila Times

Wind blown lake ice causing "ice tsunami"
Ole Martin Mortvedt was following a large ice floe floating on the lake. "Suddenly I heard a lot of crunching in the ice. Then I turned and saw the ice floe had hit land. It had such great speed that it could not stop." Mortvedt says he has never seen anything like it in his 58-year-long life.
Ringsaker, Norway

“Send help now”: Two mushers describe the events that led to their rescue from the Kobuk 440 race trail
After he lost the trail, Jeff King stopped his dog team and draped his sleeping bag over his head to block the battering wind and blowing snow. He was somewhere between the villages of Ambler and Shungnak in the Kobuk 440 Sled Dog Race. Conditions ranged from howling to furious. King lay down with his team. He cuddled a dog named Twister and tried to sleep. That’s when a flaw in the plan rattled his bones. The work of getting there had caused him to sweat, dampness worsened by blowing snow that found its way inside his clothing.
Shungnak, Alaska, United States

‘Heartbreaking’: Cyclone Seroja damages up to 70% of homes in West Australian town
A category 3 cyclone called Seroja made landfall in Western Australia Sunday night. It has left a great deal of damage in the town of Kalbarri. The storm also caused much destruction in Indonesia and East Timor before moving along on its path.
Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia
The Guardian

Blizzardy March buries Nome in lots of snow
For four years in row now, March has failed to deliver glorious weather for spring outings, safe travels and happy hunting. Instead, March has come to be synonymous with dangerous weather condition.

More snow may be coming, but the end may be in sight
March had a formidable amount of snow with more than 33 inches of recorded snowfall. But its not enough to break the 2007 record of more than 62 inches. At least one segment of town probably doesn't mind the snow. Eaglecrest Ski Area recently cleared 500 inches this season.
Juneau Empire

Child hospitalized after exposure to volcanic gases
Thelma Dórey Pálmadóttir, age 14, fell ill while visiting the Geldingadalir eruption on Easter Sunday. She was one of ten people who reported symptoms. The explanation from doctors is that it was probably volcanic gas poisoning.
Grindavík, Southern Peninsula, Iceland

Willow buds are happening
Buds are appearing right as we move into a 2-day cold spell of below zero nights. An adjacent willow budded a few weeks ago during a similar cycle of warmth followed by cold, and it appears to be putting some buds out, although on different branches.
Chickaloon, Alaska, United States

Unidentified Waxy Substance
Unusual waxy, white substance washed up on beach.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Chyna Williams, Johanna Tellman, Tom Okey

A Denali glacier is speeding downhill, potentially hampering climbers and increasing flood risk
Muldrow Glacier on the north side of Denali is surging for the first time since the 1950s — moving 50 to 100 times faster than its usual pace. The surge was first glimpsed by K2 Aviation pilot Chris Palm last month. “I was thinking it looks really difficult to get onto the glacier right now,” Palm said. “It’s all shattered and torn up and jagged ice and deep crevasses everywhere.” The event could impact mountaineers scheduled to use the north approach to the mountain .

Arctic air hitting Anchorage like a freight train with -25 F wind chill
Unseasonably cold air swept into Alaska’s largest city Thursday, and forecasters expect it to stay through the weekend. The cold is plunging south into Alaska all the way from the North Pole, pushing a band of snow through Southcentral.

Fearless Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Spotted in Far North Bicentennial Park in Anchorage
A red fox roams a popular recreation outlet in Anchorage, and gets quite close to people. Treat encounters with caution, as foxes can carry rabies and other diseases.
Far North Bicentennial Park, Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Hatcher Pass road likely closed all week due to avalanche danger
The Hatcher Pass Road has been closed since April 3 and will likely remain closed by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities until at least April
Fishhook, Alaska, United States
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman

Building breaks in middle and collapses 10 meters as thawing permafrost no longer supports stilts
Arctic permafrost is degrading much faster than expected, warn scientists from the extreme north of Yakutia. It took two years for a building in the port town of Chersky on the Kolyma River, to snap in the middle after the once solid permafrost could no longer hold its supporting foundation.
Черский, Нижнеколымский район, Sakha, Russia

Shards of ice pile up on shore of Finnish lake
Strong winds have created a picturesque wall of ice on the shore of Lake Pyhäjärv. "This often happens at this time of year on the shores of larger lakes and on the sea shore," Huutonen said, adding that there were gale force winds in the area over the weekend.
Säkylä, Satakunta, Finland

Weather strands travelers in small planes on glacier near Denali
Five people stayed overnight Friday on Ruth Glacier. On Saturday, guides led them to a shelter about 3.5 miles away, A historic storm dropped record amounts of snow throughout Interior Alaska during the last few days..
Ruth Glacier, Alaska, United States

Costco customers share experiences of raven thefts
Costco customers in Anchorage have recently started sharing online reports of ravens stealing groceries from their carts and the back of their pickup trucks, and biologists say the behavior could spread around town quickly.

Fairbanks Borough schools closed Monday as region digs out from storm
Scattered power outages were reported this morning, and as the wind began picking up early this afternoon, more are expected. As of 9 a.m., unofficial measurements showed more than 19 inches of snow on Old Murphy Dome Road, 14 inches in Goldstream and almost a foot in Two Rivers. The official measurement on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus was 12.4 inches.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Carbon dioxide spikes to critical record, halfway to doubling preindustrial levels
The concentration of the heat-trapping gas topped 420 parts per million, while the planet has warmed more than two degrees. This is the highest daily average concentration to be recorded. Data was collected at the Mauna Loa Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
Washington Post

Nome and region is in the midst of a rabies epidemic
Nome and the surrounding area, including St. Lawrence Island, is fighting rabies almost as hard as it is fighting COVID-19. Because of the high level of rabies infection Fish and Game requested assistance from the National Rabies Management Response Program. Their job is to manage a wildlife disease outbreak. Several technicians and a rabies biologist are in Nome reducing the number of foxes.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Skier survives avalanche in the crater of Mt. Edgecumbe near Sitka
The man was buried between 5-8 minutes before two other skiers in his group located him with avalanche transceivers.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

'20-Foot Wall of Water' Could Be Unleashed if Florida Phosphate Pond Collapses, Official Warns
Florida's governor has declared a state of emergency after a significant leak at a large storage pond of wastewater threatened to flood roads and burst a system that stores polluted waters.
Piney Point, Florida, United States
The Weather Channel

Four gray whales have been found dead in California's Bay Area within eight days
The carcasses of four gray whales have been found around the San Francisco Bay Area in eight days -- an alarming string of deaths that constitutes an unusual mortality event, defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a significant die-off of a marine species.
San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
CNN News

Arbutus trees under stress on Gabriola Island
In early April I observed what appears to be widespread disease of Arbutus trees (Arbutus menziesii) on the island. Leaf blight is a known factor affecting Arbutus trees; but I wonder if other factors such as climate change may also be contributing to what is perceived as a general decline of the species.
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

Spring Heat Wave Sets High Temperature Records Across San Diego County
Less than two weeks into spring, a spell of sultry Santa Ana conditions provided a preview of summer in the San Diego area. The hottest spots in the county were Santee, where the mercury hit the 92 mark, and Brown Field, El Cajon, and Poway, each of which recorded 90-degree highs.
San Diego, California, United States
Times of San Diego

A gray whale carcass washed ashore at S.F.'s Crissy Field
A gray whale carcass washed ashore at Crissy Field on Wednesday morning. Veterinarians and biologists from the center and from the California Academy of Sciences plan to perform a necropsy in coming days on the island to determine the cause of death.
San Francisco, California, United States
San Francisco Chronicle

Ski areas across Alaska enjoy big-time snow days
For skiers and snowboarders looking for snowy fun within designated ski areas in Alaska, some spots have already extended their seasons.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
Alaska's News Source

Nunavik health board warns of possible botulism exposure in Inukjuak
More than 27 people in Inukjuak may have been exposed to botulism after consuming contaminated walrus meat served at two recent feasts. The Nunavik regional health board made the announcement on its Facebook page on Saturday.
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada

Arctic walrus spotted in Kerry reappears in Wales
Marine biologist and director of Dingle’s OceanWorld Aquarium, Kevin Flannery, told the Irish Times it is “very unusual” for a walrus to be spotted in this part of the world, although there have been potential sightings from surfers and fishermen in Ireland in the past.
Wales, England, United Kingdom
The Irish Times

Polar bear filmed running along road in Yakutia 460km south of its natural Arctic habitat
The racing predator was seen 60km south of Batagai, north-east from republic’s capital Yakutsk.
Батагай, Верхоянский район, Sakha, Russia

Japan's cherry blossom 'earliest peak since 812'
The 2021 season in the city of Kyoto peaked on 26 March, according to data collected by Osaka University. The city has experienced an unusually warm spring this year. Increasingly early flowerings in recent decades are likely to be as a result of climate change.
Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

A lynx, a toddler and a bizarre encounter in an Anchorage Hillside driveway
A wildlife biologist believes a lynx that recently approached a young girl may have been a juvenile. The girl’s father said he’s now on higher alert after the encounter.

Russia's Arctic coast warmest since records started, says weather service
Parts of Northern Siberia were up to 7℃ warmer than normal in 2020. The warming is the most significant along parts of the North Siberian coast, and especially around the peninsulas of Taymyr and Yamal. This has been brought on, in part, by polar vortex on the Arctic coast.
Taymyr Peninsula, Russia

Avian flu detected in Uusimaa
The H5N8 virus was detected in sick and injured birds in February and early March this year, including in a swan found dead in Helsinki's Eläintarhanlahti park and a goshawk sent to Korkeasaari Wildlife Hospital from Kumpula. Several birds infected with avian influenza have been found in Uusimaa this winter.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland

Severe heat wave in Delhi, highest temperature in March since 1945
Delhi reeled under a 'severe heatwave' on the day of Holi, as the maximum temperature shot up to 40.1 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest day in March in 76 years, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.
Delhi, NCT, India
IndiaTVnews

Rare salmon shark spotted near Catalina Island
Salmon sharks are rarely seen this far south; typically they swim off Alaska and in the northern Pacific Ocean where they have access to their favorite food.
San Pedro, California, United States
Orange County Register

Suspected bird flu after swan death in Fredrikstad
Knut-André Haugen found two dead swans with their heads under their wings outside Fredrikstad. Now the Norwegian Food Safety Authority suspects further spread of bird flu.
Skjærvika, Østfold, Norway
VG Verdens gang

Record rains cause flash flooding in Tennessee; 4 dead
Torrential rains across Tennessee flooded homes and at least one church and left roads impassable, prompting dozens of people to be rescued in the Nashville area. Authorities said four bodies were found Sunday in the flood’s aftermath. Precipitation has stopped, but flood warnings are in place for the next couple of days as rivers and creeks continue to rise.
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Press Herald

Saint Lucia Prepares For The Worst Amid Concerns Over La Soufrière Volcano
Saint Lucia is stepping up its response plans as the dome at La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continues to grow.
Georgetown, Charlotte, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Lucia Times News

Coyotes sightings in St. John's and Mount Pearl Sunday morning
Wild animals spotted near on Topsail Road near Brookfield Fire Station and Park Avenue. Wildlife officials with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture are advising the public to be vigilant regarding the presence of coyotes in residential areas
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The Telegram

A/H5N1 bird flu the cause in Prey Veng mass die-off
The death of birds recently discovered in Tuolporn Taley Boeung Sne protected area in Prey Veng province’s Ba Phnom district was a result of bird flu caused by influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1), officials confirmed. Puth Bo, community chief in the Tuolporn Taley Boeung Sne area, said community members and specialists had collected and destroyed 135 bird carcasses, raising the total to nearly 2,000 since March 17.
Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phenom Penh Post

Skier dies in avalanche near Matanuska Glacier
Fairbanks resident Erin Lee, 40, was transported to Mat-Su Regional Hospital via helicopter where she was pronounced dead, according to the statement.
Matanuska Glacier

Mysterious disease killing young California bears in Tahoe. One symptom: fearlessness
Young black bears, with no fear of people, are coming down with fatal brain inflammation in Nevada and California. Could new viruses be causing the disease? State veterinarians say that in the past 12 months alone, officials have captured three other bears with the same condition.
Truckee, California, United States
The Sacramento Bee

Avalanche closes road to Hatcher Pass
Class 2 avalanche in Hatcher Pass closed down a section of the road between Mile 14 and 16. The nonprofit Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center warned that conditions in the area were dangerous and asked that people avoid the Archangel Road trail nearby.
Hatcher Pass, Alaska, United States

Sounding bird flu alarm: Tells people to stop feeding birds
Authorities fear the spread of a very deadly bird flu virus after finding dead birds. Domestic birds should from now be kept indoors, and people are asked not to feed birds in the wild.
Østensjøvann Oslo, Norway
Nina Didriksen, Jenny Dahl Bakken, Knut Røsrud

Bushfires then floods: Wisemans Ferry residents say both are ‘just as bad’
The rain finally stopped and the sun came out, but the floodwaters in Sydney’s north-west are still causing havoc.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald

A ‘unique’ sight: Rain brings waterfall to Australia’s Uluru
Tourists flocked to the national park to catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon on Wednesday
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
The Independent

Heavy Snowfall Means Constant Plowing, Shorter Kuskokwim Ice Road
Heavy snowfall has made maintaining the lower Kuskokwim Ice Road a challenge this year. The road is shorter than usual, even as its crew is working harder.
KYUK Bethel

Red Fox Rabies Outbreak in Nome
The head of Alaska’s Wildlife Disease and Health Surveillance Program confirms that the City of Nome has a higher than normal case count of rabies in the red fox population. Usually in winter, most of the cases come from Prudhoe Bay and Utqiagvik. This winter most of the cases are from Nome, as well as from Kivalina and other villages around Kotzebue.

15 km-long ice wall emerges on Finnish lake
The conditions for the creation of an ice wall on the lake occur about once a decade, when the ice is thick enough and there are large variations in the daily temperatures. As the ice melts, it creates a chasm, but when it freezes again and expands, it forces the edge of the chasm upwards, creating the 'wall' effect.
Sysmä, Päijänne Tavastia, Finland

On par with the BP Oil spill: Tons of sediment invade Kalamazoo River after dam drawdown
Sediment that could fill the volume of 112 Olympic-sized pools has been flooding into the Kalamazoo River for over a year. IT's decimating habitats and causing a serious potential for devastating flooding.
Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
WXMI

Flooding feared near Stormdalen
Rana municipality has been warned that there have been several avalanches in Stormdalen near Skarpneset. This has led to large amounts of water accumulating – potentially triggering a flood.
Stormdalen, Rana, Norway

Willows Starting to Bud
Early budding willows (genus *Salix*) were observed on the Chistochina Trail during temperatures of 18 above Fahrenheit. The average temperature on March 23, 2021 was 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the coldest temperature on the day in the past twenty years.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States
Jimmy Evak, Wilson Justin, Katie Spellman

Sitka team conducts first humpback whale necropsy in 5 years
The Coast Guard reported the dead 47-foot female humpback to NOAA on Sunday evening. It had washed ashore on the south end of Kruzof Island. The whale looked healthy and its belly was full of fish — most likely herring. But they did find some evidence of blunt trauma.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Watch this amazing footage of a drone flying right through an erupting volcano in Iceland
The Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupted over the weekend, and drone pilot Bjorn Steinbekk captured amazing footage by flying straight through the lava. The eruption is a small one but looks incredibly nonetheless.
The Verge

Dead humpback whale washes ashore at Outer Banks
A dead humpback whale has washed ashore on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that the 18-foot whale was found on Pea Island about half-mile north of Rodanthe.
Rodanthe, North Carolina, United States

'Worst mice plague in decades' swarms across New South Wales as three hospital patients are bitten
Intensive baiting programmes have so far had little success against the infestation, and locals are hoping for heavy rain to drown the mice in their burrows.
Gilgandra, New South Wales, Australia
Sky News

Harp seal pups dying on beach as winter sea ice fails
A harp seal pup sits on a snow-covered beach near the town of Blanc-Sablon, Québec, in early March. Normally harp seals give birth and raise their pups on sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but this year’s ice coverage is at an all-time low, throwing pups’ survival into jeopardy.
Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, Canada
National Geographic

Amazing Aurora in Hope Alaska - Watch
Friday night was probably the best aurora display I've ever witnessed! I captured 4,883 exposures at 5 second intervals from just after 10pm until 5am the next morning.
Hope, Alaska, United States
YouTube

A Volcanic Eruption Has Begun on the Reykjanes Peninsula
A volcanic eruption has started by Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes peninsula. Grindavík residents noticed a red glare in the sky above the area where the magma movement has been detected for the past few weeks. Expert at the Icelandic Met Office Bjarki Kaldalóns Friis confirms that a volcanic eruption has begun.

Some Alaska seals are getting skinnier — probably because of retreating sea ice
As sea ice off Alaska continues its long-term vanishing trend, two seal species that depend on ice may be showing the effects in their bodies. Ribbon seals, distinctive for their black-and-white striped patterns on their fur, and spotted seals, known for their speckled coats, became thinner over time.

Gray Whale Dies After Washing Ashore on Dockweiler Beach
A roughly 25-foot gray whale washed ashore and died Wednesday on Dockweiler State Beach south of Marina Del Rey.
Marina del Rey, California, United States
NBC Los Angeles

Wolves finding new homes in southern Sweden
In recent months, there have been a number of reported wolf sightings in Southern Sweden, an unusual occurrence in this part of the country.
Malmö, Skåne, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Sewage Lagoon Project Finally Completed
Abnormally warm winters in 2018 and 2019, in which the ground did not freeze solid enough to support heavy equipment, delayed completion of this project.
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States
ANTHC Plumb Dandy

N.W.T. communities prepare for spring floods, as high water levels persist
During the summer and fall months of 2020, the Great Slave Lake reached the highest water levels in its recorded history. Communities that are prone to flooding are preparing for an abnormal spring ahead.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada

From Greenland to Valentia: face to face with a king of the Arctic
A walk in the woods behind Glanleam beach on Valentia Island for local man Alan Houlihan and his daughther, Muireann (Mimi) (5) on Sunday morning took a rather unusual twist when the pair spotted a walrus out on the rocks, just off the beach.
Knightstown, Ireland
independent

Blizzards kill 10 people, including 5-year-old child
Severe snow and dust storms hit Mongolia over the weekend and earlier this week. Wind speeds reached 34 meters per second. The storms and blizzard resulted in the death of nine people and a five-year old child in Dundgovi Province. Hundreds of others have gone missing.
Dundgovi, Mongolia
The UB Post

Alaskans urged to destroy moss balls that could contain invasive mussels
Last week, Alaska became one of at least 32 states to report finding zebra mussels in a product called moss balls which were sold at local pet stores.

Heavy rain over Kaua‘i
Both lanes of Kuhio Highway were closed in places on Kauai’s north shore through Wednesday evening as the island is hunkered down under an onslaught of rain.
Lihue, Hawaii, United States
The Garden Island

Merritt Island park now a ‘manatee graveyard’ as Florida sea cows starve to death
Cold stress accounts for at least 39 of the deaths, or about 10%. For 277 others, almost 70%, the cause is unknown. Biologist suspect the sea cows are starving to death as the marine mammal’s main diet of seagrass wilts under ongoing years-long ecological collapse, driven by excess algae.
Merritt Island, Florida, United States
WKMG

Orca carcass at Hook Lagoon
An Orca (*Orcinus orca*) carcass has been found on a beach in Port Heiden near Hook Lagoon. Sightings of these whales are a bit rare compared to many other whale carcass sightings and we just wanted to share with you this observation.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Flash flood warning extended for Oahu as severe weather prompts power outages, landslides, road closures
Significant flooding, landslides and road closures continue statewide as heavy showers persist.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Magne Vorland got grey shark – shattered 43 year old Norwegian record
Magne Vorland (27) was surprised when he saw what was coming to the surface. "Unusual," says the expert.
Ålfjorden, Rogaland, Norway

Spectacular footage records the formation of new second cone on highest active volcano in Eurasia
Images of the eruption and the new cone on Klyuchevskaya Sopka was caught by adventurers over two days, the 7th and 8th of March. The height of the cinder cone at its peak has reached almost 60 meters in height, with a base diameter of 101 meters.
Klyuchi, Kamtsjatka, Russia

Large crayfish spotted in Osoyoos Lake
"I've seen some way bigger than that, like a baby lobster."
Osoyoos Lake, British Columbia, Canada
INFOnews

Irregular Ponderosa Pine Growth
Ponderosa pines in Eastern Washington are displaying signs of irregular growth.
Spokane, Washington, United States

Return of migrant birds suggests early start to Finnish spring
Some migrant birds are already flocking to the north, but a cold snap may delay more returns.
Hamina, Kymenlaakso, Finland

Alert level raised after explosion at remote Alaska Peninsula volcano
Satellite and webcam views indicated low-level ash emissions from Mount Veniaminof volcano. The ash plume did not rise above 10,000 feet, the Alaska Volcano Observatory said. Minor ash deposits are visible at the volcano, located 480 miles southwest of Anchorage.
Mount Veniaminof

Chasing the Muldrow Glacier: Denali’s Muldrow Glacier is surging for the first time in 64 years and scientists are rapidly responding
For the first time since the 1950s, Denali's Muldrow Glacier is surging! It is estimated that the glacier is currently advancing between 10-20 meters (30-60 ft) a day. This has major implications for the popular north side climbing route, and may lead to a significant flood of the McKinley River. The surge may have started as early as January of this year and could continue for several more months.
Muldrow Glacier, Denali Ntl. Park, Alaska
National Park Service, Denali Park & Preserve

Reykjanes Earthquake Swarm: Tremor Pulse Detected South Of Keilir
A tremor pulse was detected at 2.20 PM and is measured at most seismic stations in Iceland, the Icelandic Meteorological Office reports. The pulse is located south of Keilir by Litli Hrútur and comes at the heels of a period of seismic unrest in the Reykjanes Peninsula. Similar signals have been observed leading up to […]
Hafnarfjörður, Capital Region, Iceland

In Russian tundra tragedy, up to 80,000 reindeer might have starved to death
Locals in the far northern Russian region believe between 60,000-80,000 animals might have died of starvation over the past few months. The tragedy follows the formation of a thick layer of ice across major parts of the Yamal tundra.
Yamal Penninsula
The Independent Barents Observer

Manatee Graveyard Found in Brevard as Mammals Die at Alarming Rate
The animals have been decaying on the isolated stretch of sand north of Manatee Cove Park
Rockledge, Florida, United States
Spectrum News

Juneau officials recommend residential evacuations, warning of dangerous ‘historic avalanches’
Juneau’s urban avalanche forecast describes “extreme” danger Saturday evening. Centennial Hall will open as an emergency shelter at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The sea is getting warmer
The sea temperatures around Iceland have been higher than the average for the past 20 years, and the sea around the whole country has become more acidic, according to data recorded by the Marine Research Institute.

Ferries cancelled as high winds hit Metro Vancouver, Gulf Islands
Several BC Ferries sailings between the mainland and Vancouver Island were cancelled Friday due to high winds blasting across the Strait of Georgia.
Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada

Black Patches on Cisco fish (Coregonus autumnalis) appear to be Phaeohyphomycosis
Fish caught while ice fishing has black patches on skin. Appears to be the same black fungal syndrome previously reported in Kipnuk.
Emmonak, Alaska, United States

Record Snowfall Blankets Russia
A snowpocalypse has engulfed Russia in recent days, with various regions and cities struggling to deal with the freak weather.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
The Moscow Times

Zebra mussels on Marimo moss balls are causing an emergency in WA
Moss balls imported from Ukraine to pet shops in the United States have been found to house the invasive Zebra mussel. Once in bodies of water, this mussel reproduces rapidly and wreaks havoc on ecosystems.
Crosscut

Largest cold-stunned sea turtle event in recorded history
Preliminary numbers say this was the largest cold-stunning event in recorded U.S. history.
Coastal Texas, United States
kiiitv.com

Abnormally large area is at risk of more avalanches, and they may come as a surprise
Ever since the first major snowfall this year, there have been warnings of avalanche danger in northern Norway. However, the recent cold period makes the area extra exposed. The avalanche that seriously injured a man on Kistrand was a "slippery avalanche", which differs relatively distinctly from an "ordinary" avalanche.
Kistrand, Bodø, Norway

Here, huge amounts of ice are pushing towards the campsite
Rainfall and heavy temperatures caused huge amounts of ice to threaten to leave houses and caravans at Breim in Nordfjord.
Byrkjelo, Vestland, Norway
Geir Bjarte Hjetland, Per Kristian Grimeland

Whitehorse hasn't seen this much snow in nearly half a century
Environment Canada says this winter's snowfall in Whitehorse is in near record-breaking territory. It's the most snow the city has seen since 1972.

Beijing records highest winter temperature ever amid heat wave
A sleepy giant panda at Beijing Zoo in Beijing, China, on Feb. 2021, the day after the capital city saw the high temperature record for winter shattered by 10 degrees. Temperatures have been on a roller coaster across China this winter.
Beijing, Beijing, China
Yahoo

Gold Jackal seen for the first time in Norway
It is common to be found in Myanmar and in Southeastern Europe. Now the gold jackal is captured on film in Finnmark.
Ildskog, Porsanger, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Rescuers monitor whale pod off New Zealand amid rebeaching fears
Rescuers were monitoring a pod of pilot whales swimming just off the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island late on Tuesday after more than a dozen of the group were killed in a mass stranding.
Takaka, Tasman, New Zealand
Reuters

Early humpback sighting
A humpback whale spotted off Bremer Bay late last week is believed to be the earliest sighting ever of the species on WA’s south coast. Humpback whales are usually spotted of WA's south coast in late March or early April. The whale's early appearance has prompted concerns from scientists about the lack of food stocks in Antarctica.
Bremer Submarine Canyon
ABC News

Offshore SeaBirds Feel Effects of Warmer Ocean Waters
Coastal seabirds have experienced significant die-offs in Western Alaska the past few years. But recent results suggest that offshore birds are also feeling the impact of low ice and warming ocean temperatures in the Bering Sea.
Bering Sea

B.C. farmer grabs lynx by scruff of neck, scolds it for killing chickens
A farmer in northern B.C. captured a wild cat he found in his chicken coop, picking it up by the scruff of the neck and gently scolding it before putting it into a dog kennel and relocating it further out in the bush. The lynx was so skinny that the farmer left the two dead chickens with the animal.
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Red sea mystery off Hawke's Bay coast
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council is taking tests and awaiting results from a likely algal bloom spreading across the sea off the Hawke's Bay coast. Coastwatchers say the reddish-brown discolouration has been growing over several weeks – visitors to the Bluff Hill lookout reported what may have been its early signs on January 31, when it appeared to be coming from a ship apparently circling at sea off the Port of Napier.
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Unusual Bird Sighting May Be a Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Unidentified birds may be Pine Grosbeaks (*Pinicola enucleator*), whose species range extends to some parts of the Alaska Peninsula.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Dust-like deposit on water along beach
White, dust-like deposit on the beach on sunny day after high tides. Water samples would be required for identification.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Dean Stockwell, Arlene Gunderson, Thomas Farrugia

Amid coronavirus pandemic, Sweden battles avian flu outbreaks
Bird flu, or avian influenza, has struck the Swedish poultry industry hard this winter. Since November, thousands of turkeys and more than one million chickens have been culled. Malin Grant, an epidemiologist at the National Veterinary Institute, says the virus can be deadly for domestic poultry but the strains currently circulating don't easily infect or spread between people.
Kalmar and Skane Counties, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Police believe large numbers of dead fish have a natural explanation
In Eikefjorden in Kinn municipality, large quantities of dead horse mackerel recently washed ashore. The whole thing will probably end up as a meal for birds and other fish-interested animals, the police say. The cause of the fish kill remains a mystery.
Eikefjord, Kinn, Vestland

Lynx killed by ENR officers
The wildcat showed no hesitancy in actively interacting with people or traffic an ENR spokesperson said. It was likely the animal involved in other interactions with pets.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Woman gets surprise bite while using outhouse
When he heard something had bitten his sister, Erik Stevens grabbed a light and went to investigate. "I shined the headlamp and opened the lid, and right there at the level of the toilet seat was a cinnamon-colored bear face, big enough to fill the hole."
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Lack of sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence means more seals on shore
Record-low levels of sea ice cover in the Gulf of St. Lawrence means a greater number of seals are coming on shore and are more likely to interact with humans.
Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, Canada

Red tide linked to royal tern deaths on causeway
On Feb. 16, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that many residents and visitors have called SCCF, the city of Sanibel and Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife with concerns about royal terns over the past few weeks and the sight of their carcasses on the Sanibel Causeway bridges. Test results on deceased royal terns confirmed on Feb. 15 that they had high levels of brevetoxins, the neurotoxin associated with red tide.
Sanibel, Florida, United States
captivasanibel.com/

Seyðisfjörður Mudslides: Residents Evacuated Again
There was heavy rainfall yesterday across the region. Rain combined with thawing snow and above-freezing temperatures are conditions that increase the likelihood of landslides. The evacuation from six streets was called “precautionary” as authorities are still evaluating whether the slope was destabilized following December landslides.
Seyðisfjörður, East, Iceland

Lone lynx likely culprit behind pair of Yellowknife dog attacks, biologist says
On Monday, Shania Tymchatyn saved one of her dogs from a lynx, and Yellowknife kennel owner Trevor Lizotte says one of the big cats attacked his dog team last week.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Millions without Power as US braces for another winter storm
Millions of people are still living a nightmare scenario of arctic cold, snow or ice with little to no power. There will be little time Tuesday before the next blast of winter weather compounds the situation.
United States
CNN
Meg Wagner, Judson Jones, and Mike Hayes

Colorado Springs sets record-low temperatures, breaking marks set 126 years ago
Colorado Springs set new record-low temperatures, breaking marks set 126 years ago, for both Sunday and Monday as a wave of Arctic cold swept through the state over the weekend.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Colorado Springs Gazette

Lynx spotted in downtown Yellowknife
A “not very shy” lynx attracted some attention in Yellowknife Monday. Daniel Bourke saw it near Avens seniors complex where staff called ENR.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
NNSL MEDIA

Groundwater levels bounce back after more rain and snow
More rain and a blanket of snow in recent months has helped Sweden's groundwater levels recover significantly after dropping in several parts of the country.
Sweden

Weather worries in south and east
Very heavy rain has affected South and East Iceland throughout Sunday and overnight. An area of Seyðisfjörður has been evacuated and road closures were announced in three places due to an avalanche, an ice flood, and a downed power line.
Seyðisfjörður, East, Iceland

Record-low ice levels found in Gulf of St. Lawrence
This year's seasonal ice cover is the lowest in its 51-year recorded history say forecasters with the Canadian Ice Service.
Gulf of St. Lawrence

Landslide rumbles through houses, gardens, roads
Heavy rain and flooding in Mt Hagen on Friday caused a landslide which destroyed several homes and food gardens, besides roads and bridges.
Port Moresby, National Capital, Papua New Guinea
The National

Reports of dead seals on coasts doubled in 2020, charity says
In 2020, Seal Rescue Ireland reported the highest number of strandings on record, 202 dead seal reports coming from all over the country. They think one contributing factor is climate change; an increase in the severity and frequency of storms is causing more deaths among pups, from drowning or storm related injuries.
Shanagarry, Munster, Ireland
TheJournal.ie

Cars buried overnight in huge snow drifts near Buckie
Vehicles were trapped as gale-force winds carried mud-coloured waves of snow onto the A98 near Buckie. Snow ploughs were used to try and clear the stretch, close to its junction with the B9016, but were unable to make it through and the road remains closed.
Buckie, Scotland, United Kingdom

153 people injured in quake, most in Fukushima and Miyagi
Most of the major damage from the magnitude-7.3 quake that occurred at 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 13 off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture was concentrated in Fukushima and neighboring Miyagi prefectures. The number of people injured by a powerful earthquake in northeastern Japan two days earlier rose to 153, but no deaths were reported as of Feb. 15.
Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan
The Asahi Shimbun

Blue Russian Dogs Spotted Near Abandoned Factory
A pack of stray blue dogs, likely covered in chemical waste, was spotted on the road near the Russian town of Dzerzhinsk. The dogs may have been exposed to chemicals at a nearby abandoned factory that produced plexiglass and hydrocyanic acid, giving their fur the eye-catching blue color.
Dzerzhinsk, Nizjnij Novgorod, Russia

Wildfire warning as firefighters tackle blazes in Western Isles
Firefighters extinguished fires on Benbecula and Harris as they warn of extreme risk. SFRS said the fires had broken out in vegetation that had died off since last year and then been dried out by frost and low temperatures.
Benbecula, Scotland, United Kingdom

Temperature of -23C in Braemar is UK's lowest in 25 years
Icicles covered businesses in the village of Braemar. The Met Office says Braemar in Aberdeenshire recorded the coldest night since December 1995.
Braemar

Frosty morning temperatures smash 13 records across Saskatchewan on Thursday
It was a record-breaking Thursday morning in a number of Saskatchewan communities due to an arctic ridge of high pressure.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Global News

Possible Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Sighting
This bird is a juvenile Great Blue Heron. It is rare sighting of heron outside of its normal range which extends into Southeast but not Southwest Alaska.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Snow and plunging temperatures for Scotland
The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday comes amid wintry weather dubbed the Beast from the East II. Deep drifts of snow blocking the Banchory to Fettercairn road at Cairn Mount in Aberdeenshire.
Golspie, Scotland, United Kingdom

High pressure system torpedoes temperatures
A high pressure system in western Canada is driving temperatures in Southeast Alaska through the floor, possibly hitting below zero at the Juneau International Airport for the first time in years.
Juneau Empire

Dog attacks not typical lynx behaviour, says Yukon biologist
Twice in the last couple of weeks, dog have been attacked by lynx. Biologist Tom Jung says climate change may be a factor, affecting the amount of food available. Snowshoe hares in Yukon are now in about the third year of decline.

Photographer shares eerie sounds skating on newly-formed ice
Alexey Kolganov films himself skating on transparent ice of lake Baikal, as new cracks form under his skates. Most surprising is the unexpected, cosmic sound.
Lake Baikal

Man mauled by bear while backcountry skiing in Southeast Alaska
The man was injured on his face and hands. Two members in the skiers party assisted with his injuries and communicate for help in 15 degree temperatures with sunset approaching. It was not immediately clear what triggered the mauling about 10 miles northwest of Haines.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Major winter storm blasts Cape Breton
Cape Breton finally looks like a winter wonderland. A quick-moving storm that raced across Atlantic Canada dropped about 37 cm of snow over the Sydney area.
Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Telegram

Bowhead whales appear to be on the rebound
The open ocean off Utqiagvik in fall and early winter is evidence of climate change. Remarkably, bowhead whales appear to be thriving, although there are new challenges. Kidney-worm infections have been detected in bowheads, possibly brought by other species of whales coming north. And then there are the killer whales, a natural predators of bowheads now venturing north.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Andy Meldrum, of Glencoe Mountain, said his business is working towards a date when they can welcome back skiers and snowboarders. Despite the most magnificent conditions in 11 years, the slopes remain closed because of lockdown.
Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom

Pipes and sewers are freezing because of the cold
The cold and dry weather continues without relief. At Nordnes in Saltdal, less precipitation has never been recorded. Now more and more people are experiencing both pipes and sewage freezing.
Rognan, Nordland, Norway

Had to go into the flood to save car
Several properties in Trysil have been affected by flooding after ice flow in Trysilelva. The garage where Johnny Stenbrenden has his beloved Chevrolet Camaro was flooded.
Jordet, Trysil river, Norway
Mette Finborud Børresen, Hans Andreas Solbakken, Torunn Myhre, Ola Bjørlo Strande

Goldfish invasion of Hamilton Harbour
Pet fish dumped in local waterways have become the scourge of Hamilton’s marshes and harbour
Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, Canada
Macleans.ca

December temperatures finally arrive in February
"The Chistochina River froze over and went to overflow by the second of February which means we went through the New Year and January with the river running open. First time that I know of."
Chistochina, Alaska, United States
Wilson Justin, Chris Arp, Katie Spellman

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

Home by home, Clyde River residents clear snow after heavy blizzard
A massive snow dump reached the hamlet of Clyde River, Nunavut, while its bulldozer and one loader were out of service. Residents worked to clear snow so that trucked water and sewage services could reach homes.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada

Pine Siskin Salmonellosis Outbreak
An outbreak of salmonellosis among pine siskins in North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada may be linked to an increased population, migratory irruption, and the use of bird feeders during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Disease killing songbirds throughout the region
A recent outbreak of salmonellosis is leading to the deaths of wild birds throughout the northern United States. The current die-off affects finches such as pine siskins as well as other songbirds.
Spokane, Washington, United States
Spokesman.com

Two more Russian tankers transit Bering Strait
Two more Russian LNG tankers made history earlier this month passing through the North Sea Route, which extends along the northern coast of Russian Asia, in late January, the latest commercial ship
Diomede, Alaska, United States

Huge piece of Highway 1 south of Big Sur falls into ocean
Caltrans said Friday emergency repairs are underway.
Big Sur, California, United States
SFGATE

Government closes Djoudj Park after 750 pelicans die
The Djoudj park will not reopen its doors until the investigation into the death of 750 pelicans is completed. According to the Senegalese Ministry of the Environment, the bird flu trail has already been ruled out.
Djourj Park
Afrik 21

Snowy Owl Is Spotted in Central Park, for First Time in 130 Years
The hordes came running and the snow-white raptor became the latest celebrity bird of Manhattan. Some enthusiasts took Manhattan Bird Alert to task for revealing the bird’s exact whereabouts to 38,000 followers. By Thursday morning, the Central Park snowy was nowhere to be found.
Manhattan, New York, United States
New York Times

Kennel cough is ripping through Anchorage dog parks, and veterinarians recommend social distancing for pets
The highly contagious infection can lead to pneumonia and hits puppies, older dogs and dogs with health problems the hardest. Vaccination against kennel cough protects for about year.

Peat fires continue to burn at air temperature of -50C in northeastern Yakutia
Pillars of smoke were filmed over the areas hit by last summer’s wildfires despite the current long spell of extremely cold weather.
Saydyp, Altai Krai, Russia

Mild Temperatures and North Winds Contribute to Low Sea Ice Extent in Bering
Sea ice extent in the Bering Sea was at record low levels at the end of 2020. And with recent strong northerly winds combined with mild temperatures, sea ice coverage in the Bering Strait region is still not ideal.

Ice pancakes float along a river in the Highlands
The pancakes form when foam floating on a river or the sea freeze. These frozen chunks are then shaped by being rubbed against one another in eddies of water.
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Women jump on attacking lynx to save dog
Two women in Beaver Creek, say they jumped on a lynx to pull it away from a dog it attacked. The lynx, its mouth latched onto the dog's face, would not let go.
Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada

Sinkhole opens under Chefornak home, forcing family to evacuate
In Chefornak, a family was forced to evacuate their home because a sinkhole caused by thawing permafrost formed underneath it. That family had to move into a building intended to be a quarantine facility.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Snow conditions causing stress on trees
The snowfall that came in the relatively mild Christmas season, was followed by severe cold and has caused the snow to freeze to bark and needles on conifers. The snow that now comes, settles on the branches in thick layers and is becoming heavier to carry.
Kattåsen, Finnemarka, Modum, Viken

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in January
"While teleworking, I looked out the window to see a red breast light in a tree in the front yard in Anchorage, Alaska in January. It was an American robin."

Male grizzly euthanized near Braeburn
Yukon conservation officers have euthanized a grizzly bear that was originally sighted near Braeburn.
Aishihik, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Ice Road Open, At Least For Now
After heavy snowfall on Jan. 19, the ice road from Bethel to Tuluksak has been plowed and is open for use. Napaimute Traditional Council’s Mark Leary, who
Tuluksak, Alaska, United States

More critically endangered right whale calves spotted off Florida coast
Two more calves have been spotted off the coast of Amelia Island in Florida, increasing the total number of calves seen this season to 11, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Fernandina Beach, Florida, United States
wbal.com

Avalanche Causes Damage at Siglufjörður Skiing Grounds
No one was on the grounds when the avalanche occurred early this morning, though staff noticed it when they arrived in the area, located in Skarðsdalur valley. The ski lodge was displaced from its foundation by the avalanche.
Siglufjörður, Northeast, Iceland

West Coast’s gray whale population plummets by a quarter since 2016: NOAA
Researchers say the population of gray whales off the West Coast of the United States has fallen by nearly one-quarter since 2016, resembling a similar die-off two decades ago.
KTLA

One dead and six in hospital after anthrax outbreak
The sick are said to have been in contact with the carcass of a cow suspected to have been infected. It is the first time a human being is succumbing to anthrax in the area.
Itoki, Southwest, Cameroon
The Standard

Snowless winter and tough year overall
The winter so far has seen very little snow in Iceland. December snowfall was well below average in both Reykjavík and Akureyri. Meteorologist Elín Björk Jónasdóttir says it has been one of the least white winters in living memory so far.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland

Howling winds topple trees, causing power outages and closing Yosemite
Strong winds left a path of destruction in the Valley overnight Monday and into Tuesday and led to the closure of the Yosemite National Park. Wind gusts of more than 100 miles per hour sounded like an angry animal.
Yosemite National Park, California, United States
ABC30 Fresno

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) sighted in Sitka
"This is the earliest I have ever seen a hummingbird in this region."

Mild stretch sets the stage for record-breaking warmth in Iqaluit
The warm spell, which is expected to last into the last week of January, is the result of a low-pressure cyclonic system of warm air from the south.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Rare melanistic seal pups caught on camera
Rare melanistic seals have been captured on camera in north Norfolk. Rangers have spotted 10 melanistic seal pups during the winter 2020-21 pupping season at Blakeney Point.
Wells-next-the-Sea, England, United Kingdom
Eastern Daily Press

Storm Christoph brings three days worth of rain in just hours to village near Machynlleth
A village near Machynlleth was one of the wettest places in the UK this morning after more than three days worth of rain fell in seven hours.
Machynlleth, Wales, United Kingdom
County Times

Tanker “Nikolay Yevgenov” damaged by ice on the Northern Sea Route
One of three propulsion units on the tanker “Nikolay Yevgenov” was damaged on January 16 as the vessel approached the Bering Strait. After having sailed with a speed of about 9 knots from Sabetta, the tanker suddenly slowed to 3 knots.
kommersant.ru

Warm winter weather making it a difficult hunting season
From lack of animals on the landscape to safety concerns, to stories of changes in the snow and wind, several northerners discussed the ‘weird’ season and its impact on hunting this year.
Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, Canada

Marine species wash up on beaches as red tide hits West Coast
A harmful algal bloom, better known as a red tide, has been building up at Elands Bay on the West Coast, about 220km north of Cape Town.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
African News Agency

Snowfall blankets Istanbul, boosts water resources
The precipitation, although lasting just a few days, was good news for dams supplying water to more than 15 million people in the city. Just a few weeks after a drought alert, dams have seen a rise in their water levels.
İstanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
Daily Sabah

Winter Heat Wave
High surf and record high temperatures throughout the county made for summer-like conditions in San Diego this weekend.
San Diego, California, United States
San Diego Union-Tribune

Pink water at Sentosa Cove caused by heavy rainfall
Investigations into the fish die-off and pinkish-purple colour of the Sentosa South Cove waterway earlier this month have found that they were caused by the heavy and persistent rainfall in recent weeks that altered water conditions.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Sentosa
The Straits Times

Coast guard warns of thin ice
Finland is emerging from a deep freeze, giving way to milder temperatures and more snow. On Saturday three people in Helsinki fell through the ice at two different locations within the same 15-minute period.
Vihti, Uusimaa, Finland

Russian tanker passes through Bering Strait in the midst of winter
Last week, a 908-foot Russian tanker carrying liquified natural gas passed south through the Russian side of the Bering Strait, with two more to follow. The ships are traversing the northern coast of Siberia, called the North Sea Route, in the middle of January with no icebreaker escort, an unprecedented event that may hint at the future of the region as climate change alters global commerce.
Uelen, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

N.W.T. waters return to normal after record concentrations of metals found in summer
After a summer that saw high water levels and even higher concentrations of metal in two N.W.T. rivers, water testing is showing a return to normal, and a limited impact on local wildlife.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada

Unusual Winter Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Sighting
Although bears may hibernate for different lengths of time during winter, winter bear activity is an uncommon sight for Alaska Peninsula residents.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Parks Canada euthanize cougar showing aggressive behaviour
Parks Canada wildlife officials responded in the early hours to a report of a cougar near Muskrat and Wolf Street in Banff on Jan. 13 at 3:50 a.m.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
thecragandcanyon

Whitehorse city workers pile snow high to keep roads clear after early winter storms
City of Whitehorse crews have been dealing with record amounts of snow on residential streets and roads. Thousands of truckloads of snow will be hauled away keeping a small army of city workers and contractors busy with plenty of overtime.

Thousands of salmon lost in major seal attack
More than 50,000 juvenile fish were killed or escaped in the incident on Skye, says an industry body. The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) said predation attacks continued to have a significant impact on fish health and welfare.
Portree, Scotland, United Kingdom

Power restored to more than 140,000 homes after B.C. windstorm
Power has been restored to more than 140,000 homes after a nasty overnight windstorm moved across the South Coast, leaving fallen trees and sagging power lines scattered across the region.

Divers Assess Risk of Oil Leak From Sunken Ship
A large feed boat belonging to fish farming company Laxar sunk in Reyðarfjörður, East Iceland last weekend. Vísir reports that divers were sent out to the ship yesterday to assess the risk of oil leakage from the vessel, which contains around 10,000 litres of diesel oil in addition to 300 tons of feed.
Reyðarfjörður, East, Iceland

Avalanche hits ski resort near Norilsk
Father missing under snow; more than 200 people continue search and rescue at -23C, snowstorm and bleak light of polar night.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Storm Filomena paralyzes Madrid, leaving the Spanish capital immobilized and in a critical condition
The unexpectedly heavy snowfall has blocked roads, left the emergency services unable to circulate and has caused dangerous situations due to falling branches.
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
EL PAÍS

Orca pod returns to the Broughton Archipelago after more than 20 years
The A5 pod has returned to the Broughton Archipelago, their traditional winter hunting ground, with a brand new baby in tow.
Fife Sound, Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News
Zoe Ducklow, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

First record in Canada: Rare bird common in Japan seen in Yukon
A rare bird was spotted last week in Yukon. Birders flocked to Haines Junction last week to spot a hawfinch, which was thousands of kilometers out of its usual range.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Killer whale rescued after getting stranded on remote Scottish beach
The BDMLR scrambled to help the orca with the help of locals in Orkney.
Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom
Metro

8 homes on Hood Canal evacuated due to landslide on Kitsap County cliff
Residents in Seclusion Cove were evacuated Monday night due to a landslide. As residents were warned of the threat, Poulsbo Fire said trees were heard cracking.
Poulsbo, Washington, United States

3rd body found after landslide in Norway; 7 still missing
Rescue teams searching for survivors four days after a landslide carried away homes in a Norwegian village found no signs of life Saturday amid the ruined buildings and debris. Three bodies have been recovered but searchers are still looking for seven more people believed to be missing. The landslide in the village […]
Ask, Akershus, Norway
NBC4 WCMH-TV

Lake Washington sockeye hit record low, another signature Seattle fish at brink of extinction
Some 22,950 sockeye were counted at Ballard’s Hiram Chittenden Locks in 2020, but only about 3,000 made it to the mouth of the Cedar. Another 40 to 50% of those fish typically die on the spawning grounds before they can reproduce.A vortex of climate change, urbanization and predators endangers a beloved species.
Seattle Times

Strange electric rays wash up on Provincetown beach
Researchers document unusual find: 31 torpedo rays wash up on Provincetown beach just after Christmas.
Provincetown, Massachusetts, United States
Cape Cod Times

An Increase of Hail in Victoria, British Columbia
Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the occurrence of hail during the winter and early spring months. This type of weather is very unusual for this area. While our current experiences with hail have been mild, an increase in frequency and severity is cause for concern.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Lentinar Clouds Observed for First Time
Lentinar clouds are a rare event in Western Alaska. These amazing photos were taken in Chuathbaluk a Yupik community on the Kuskokwim River.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Anna Michael, Chyna Williams

Sperm whale washes up in Ponte Vedra Beach
A dead 14-foot pygmy sperm whale washed ashore on Ponte Vedra Beach on Friday morning behind the Sawgrass Beach Club.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States
WJXT

A New Clam in Town
Razor clams are the newest addition to Iceland’s resident fauna, RÚV reports. Researchers believe that the bivalves, which got their name in English from their long skinny shape, sharp edges, and resemblance to old fashioned straight razors, were brought to Iceland in the bilge water of cargo ships.
Hafnarfjörður, Capital Region, Iceland

Two foxes test positive for rabies in Tuktoyaktuk
After two foxes tested positive for rabies in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., health officials are advising anyone who has come in contact with a fox to contact the local health centre and report the incident immediately.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Ten injured and 21 missing after landslide destroys houses near Oslo
The tide of mud and clay destroyed as many as 14 houses in Ask in the municipality of Gjerdrum, some 30km north of Oslo. Hundreds were evacuated and police said 21 people living in the affected area were still unaccounted for. The landslide area is known for its "quick clay", a form of clay that can behave more like a liquid than a solid when disturbed. It is thought heavy rain in recent days may have caused the soil to shift.
Gjerdrum, Viken, Norway
The Independent

Duck die-off likely caused by fungal infection
The cause of death is almost certainly acute Aspergillosis, a respiratory tract infection caused by a fungus commonly found in soil, dead leaves, moldy grain, compost piles, or in other decaying vegetation. Wildlife managers say the die-off seems to have stopped, likely due to the fungus source no longer being available.
Salmon, Idaho, United States
ktvb.com

Preserved carcass of Ice Age woolly rhino found in Siberian permafrost
The frozen carcass is 80 per cent intact and may be around 34,000 years old. Two extinct cave lion cubs were also found here in the Abyisky district of Yakutia last year close to a tributary of the remote Tirekhtyakh River.
Badyarikha River
Metro

Tundroviks of Yamal district will be helped with fuel and feeding for reindeer
In the very north of the Yamal Peninsula, deer pastures were covered with an ice crust due to heavy frosts after the rains. Monitoring and communication of specialists with reindeer breeders confirmed the fears - ice may provoke deaths of the reindeer herd. Assistance will be provided with feed, but emaciated animals must be slaughtered.
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
ИА «Север-Пресс»

After record heat comes extreme cold to Russian Arctic coast
The year is coming to a close with temperatures down to minus 50 °C in parts of northern Siberia.
Норильск, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

The result is clear: 2020 is the hottest year ever in the country
Experts fear the future could be like the record year 2020: Shorter and warmer winters, wetter summers.
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Louise Scharff Thommessen, Tiril Mettesdatter Solvang, Hallvard Nordum

Reeking whale carcasses plaguing Withernsea with sickening smell
Given the rarity of similar incidents, the whales have attracted a large crowd since Christmas Eve. On Boxing Day, the Coastguard confirmed that patrols have been taking place to ensure the safety of the public in the days since the animals were stranded.
Withernsea, England, United Kingdom
HullLive

Kennebec River floods banks following Christmas storm
Augusta, Hallowell, Gardiner, see waters rise due to rain, melting snow following storm.
Hallowell, Maine, United States
Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

Stranded whale pod beaches in East Yorkshire
Up to 10 sperm whales have been stranded between Withernsea and Tunstall on the coast. Members of the coastguard and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) are on the beach, between Tunstall and Withernsea, near Hull.
Withernsea, England, United Kingdom

Massive mountain rockslide near Juneau shakes the earth on Christmas Eve
Around Christmas, there were reports of an earthquake and major mountain rockslide in the wilderness near Juneau. But what came first? The earthquake or the slide?

Storm blasts Southcentral Alaska with wind gusts over 100 mph
A storm bringing strong wind, rain and snow to Southcentral Alaska on Tuesday caused power outages from Anchorage to Whittier and damaged some homes on the Anchorage Hillside. The weather service reported a peak gust of 133 mph on Sunburst mountain on the western Kenai Peninsula.

Dolphin and seal deaths in Waterford Harbour spur call for inquiry
Verified reports of deaths and circumstantial evidence animals trapped in ‘bycatch’
Waterford City, Ireland
The Irish Times

Polar bears leave the Chukchi village of Rrykaipi
As of December 18, only 3 polar bears remained. The polar bears had gathered near the village when a strong southern wind moved ice away from the shore, leaving the animals to move by shore to Kozhevnkov Cape, where the predators eat walrus remains.

Yet Another Mudslide in Seyðisfjörður, Whole Town To Be Evacuated
After a week of extreme rainfall, devastating landslides have hit the town of Seyðisfjörður in east Iceland. Another large mudslide hit several buildings in town around three pm, sweeping at least one building away.

Amid frigid temperatures, Fort Simpson warming shelter to open ahead of schedule
In the midst of an extreme cold spell across the N.W.T., community members in Fort Simpson are opening a warming shelter. Despite limited resources, the community has rallied to ensure people have a safe space to go. Whether they're experiencing housing insecurity or in a tough spot and need somewhere to warm up, people know a place is available to them.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada

Container ship "Sparta-3" stuck in ice in the Yenisei Bay
A container ship froze into the waters of Yenisei Bay in Russia’s Arctic. Traveling from Dudinka to Arkhangelsk, the ship got stuck in ice on December 13. The crew battled icing, but was not in danger. Three weeks later, the ship was able to break free. According to Atomflot, the ship did not have necessary permissions to sail along this section of the Northern Sea Route.
ТАСС

Leading the charge: City welcomes fleet's 1st electric bus
Bus is expected to be rider-ready in February.

Bleeding tar makes road travel hazardous
Vegagerðin (the Road and Coastal Administration) is encouraging people to postpone journeys on Route 1 in the west and northwest of the country due to significant amounts of tar bleeding from the road surface and causing considerable danger and damage to vehicles. Clumps of tar collect and harden on the tyres of passing vehicles, making driving treacherous. Chunks fly off and have been causing some serious damage.

Flying Debris Severs Power Line in Unalakleet Due to High, Gusting Winds
Yesterday, damaging high wind in Unalakleet sent debris flying into high voltage power lines, knocking out electricity for half of the village. After roughly nine hours, electricity was restored to…
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Lightning gouged channels into Scottish mountain
The suspected lightning strike in the Highlands also dislodged boulders the size of washing machines.
Corrour, Scotland, United Kingdom

Generation of B.C. salmon likely wiped out by landslide
Homalco First Nation to push for special hatchery permits
Southgate River, British Columbia
Campbell River Mirror
Quinn Bender, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Coeur d'Alene eagle numbers low, mirroring lake's kokanee population
Larger-than-normal kokanee in Lake Coeur d’Alene are sending migratory eagles wheeling on to better hunting grounds this winter.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
Spokesman.com

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

Young whale with broken jaw washed up on Belgian beach
A dead minke whale with a broken jaw washed up on a Belgian beach on Friday.
Bredene, Flanders, Belgium
The Brussels Times

Researchers think they spotted new whale species off Mexico
Scientists are waiting for water samples analysis that could hold skin cells for possible DNA testing. . Read more at straitstimes.com.
San Benito Islands
The Straits Times

COVID-19: Outbreak declared at Fraser Valley mink farm
Minks have been discovered to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A coronavirus outbreak has been declared at a Fraser Valley mink farm after eight people at the site tested positive for COVID-19.
Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Ketchikan evacuees can return home with potential for dam failure subsiding, officials say
Ketchikan officials say there’s “currently no danger of dam failure” but noted that a flood advisory is in place through Sunday.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Disruption after thundersnow hits Scotland
Hundreds of residents reported hearing explosions in the early hours of Friday caused by the weather phenomenon. After receiving a number of calls, Police Scotland took to Twitter to reassure residents that there was no need to be alarmed.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Vermilion flycatcher - A big red surprise
Late on the afternoon of Nov. 18, Kathy Marche, birding in Stephenville, came across a very colorful bird unfamiliar to her. She took photos but had to wait until she got home to look up the identification.
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The Telegram

Landslides and flooding after a record-breaking storm
In December of 2020 an atmospheric river brought heavy rains on top of a deep snowpack.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Record-breaking rainfall leaves muddy mess across Southeast Alaska
High winds, flooding and landslides caused moderate to severe damage in communities across Southeast Alaska Wednesday, as an atmospheric river stalled over the region and brought record-breaking rain.

6 reported missing in Haines after record rainfall causes flooding, landslides across Southeast Alaska
Nearly 12 inches of rain fell on the town of Pelican in 48 hours, and all-time records were set in Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Petersburg and Ketchikan. The City of Haines is sending alerts about the immediate danger of landslides.

Moscow Sees Warmest Fall on Record
The average temperature for September, October and November was 3.2 degrees C, which is 4.4 C above normal.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia

Powerful storm with howling winds knocks out power to more than 100,000 in Maine
A potent storm system hit Maine on Monday with heavy rain and wind gusts close to 60 mph that caused more than 100,000 power outages. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the state lost power Monday night as the wind brought branches down on power lines. There were multiple reports of trees falling into roads in Lisbon, Durham, Bath, Woolwich and Bar Harbor, among other places.
Lewiston, Maine, United States

Fire in the North: The 2020 Siberian Fire Season
Burned area data show that there was an unusual amount of fire activity in the 2020 fire season in northern Siberia (north of 65 degrees). This fire activity was associated with severe summer drought that led to extreme fire behavior and long-duration fires.
International Association of Wildland Fire

The permafrost in Jotunheimen is thawing – We do not know the consequences
Underground, a mighty giant is disintegrating: the permafrost is about to drop its roof. Constantly creeping upwards, the permafrost zone is now 100 meters further up the mountainside than 20 years ago.
Mt. Juvvasshøe, Lom, Innlandet, Norway
Ragnhild Moen Holø, Even Lusæter, Roar Berntsen

Seal hunters come across frozen beached bowhead whale
A family out seal hunting in Nunavut came across a very rare sight when they happened upon a full-size, beached, frozen bowhead whale, along with plenty of polar bear tracks nearby. "That was a very, very amazing sight. Its my first time to see a bowhead," said Panigayak.
Taloyoak, Nunavut, Canada

H5N8 avian influenza detected in wild goose
Bird flu has been detected in a goose found in Rogaland. The Veterinary Institute has analyzed samples from the bird, which show highly pathogenic bird flu A (H5N8). This virus has caused outbreaks among birds in several European countries this autumn.
Rogaland, Norway
Outbreak News Today

Fewer choosing studded tires
Roughly eight percent fewer drivers now choose to use studded winter tires on their cars than two years ago, according to FÍB, the Icelandic Automobile Association. It is worth noting that early winter this year has been mild and that some drivers may be holding off.

Call for extra hands to clear Russian bridge, still shut after last week’s disastrous ice rain
Video shows hero climbers manually breaking ice off its cable stays at height of 324m (1,063ft) in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia

Autumn rains eight times more then last year
A year ago Bergensarane was bathed in autumn sun. This autumn it was bathed in rain. In fact, it has come in eight times more rainfall in November this year than last year.
Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Winter Storm Buffets Western Alaska While Lack of Sea Ice Continues to be the Norm
Similar to the last storm that hit the region earlier this month, there is hardly any sea ice in the Bering Sea to minimize the damage to coastal areas.

Nearly 100 whales die in mass stranding in New Zealand
Nearly 100 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand's Department of Conservation said Wednesday.
Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand

Coyotes are being spotted in Yellowknife
The N.W.T.'s environment department is warning Yellowknifers to be careful while out for walks after a number of coyote sightings were reported over the weekend.

Beauty of frozen methane bubbles on the world’s deepest lake shown in stunning video
Baikal is located in a rift zone, a deep crack in the Earth's crust which narrows at depths of several dozen kilometers. A tranquil video of white and silver bubbles of methane caught in newly-formed ice was filmed at Maloye More, a strait that separates the lake's largest island from the western shore of Lake Baikal.
Khuzhir, Irkutsk, Russia

Body of Rare North Atlantic Right Whale Calf Washes Up Ashore in North Carolina
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered. The park service says only about 360 of the animals are still alive and about five or six calves are born each year.
Inside Edition

Homeless man freezes to death steps away from cathedral in Vladivostok’s ice rain aftermath
A 60-year-old man was found early on Friday in the yard of Pokrovsky Cathedral in the centre of Vladivostok. Elsewhere in Primorsky region 94,000 people are still without electricity, 18,000 are without heating.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia

Shocking temperatures across the Arctic
A belt of warm air is currently stretching from northern Greenland across the North Pole to the Laptev and East Siberian Seas north of the Russian mainland. Northeast of Svalbard from Franz Josef Land to Severnaya Zemlya see similar heat. On a recent November weekend the average temperature was 6.7°C above normal across the Arctic.

There's gonna be a lot of open water N.W.T. elder warns amid delayed freeze-up conditions
After record-high water levels and rates of flow in rivers, lakes and streams in the Northwest Territories this summer, the government is warning the problem is likely to persist into winter.
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada

No Kuskokwim Ice Road Yet
The weather may be cold, but it’s too soon to get out on the river ice. The ice is forming up better than it did two years ago, when the winter was the warmest on record, but it is not freezing as fast or as well as last winter, when conditions were near-perfect.

State of emergency in Russian Far East as ice rain causes collapse of key systems
Overnight ice rain and north winds turned Vladivostok, Russia's Pacific capital, and most of the Primorye region into a frozen land with hundreds of power lines cut by wet snow. The storm left 120,000 people without electricity and many without heating and water.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia

High water rising: above-average levels and flow rates in NWT lakes, rivers, streams
The Taltson River, below the hydro dam south of Great Slave Lake, typically sees 215 cubic meters per second. As of November 12, the water flow was recorded as 628 cubic meters per second.
NNSL Media

Spring phenomenon in November: There goes the ice for the third time this fall
The warmest November in over 100 years has had unusual consequences in Finnmark. The video shows the third breakup this autumn.
Tana, Norway

England's largest grey seal colony set to welcome record 4,000 new pups
England's largest grey seal colony is expected to see a record baby boom of 4,000 new arrivals this year. The seals thrived on the low levels of disturbance and mortality of the pups in the first few weeks of life, and a lack of natural predators on the long shingle spit where they have their young.
Wells-next-the-Sea, England, United Kingdom
Evening Express

'Once in a millennium': Record-breaking rogue wave measured off Vancouver Island
A massive ocean wave that was tracked off the west coast of Vancouver Island in 2020 is now considered the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded, according to scientists at the University of Victoria.
Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada
CTV News-Vancouver Island

Emaciated fin whales wash up dead on French shores
Marine biologists are investigating the deaths of at least six whales found washed up on Frances western shores with no apparent sign of having been hit by a ship or caught in a trawler's net.
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Pays de la Loire, France
Reuters

B.C. veterinarians blame COVID-19 pandemic for rise in kennel cough cases in dogs
The Society of B.C. Veterinarians has noticed more dogs are catching kennel cough this year than in previous years, and they think it might be due to the coronavirus pandemic.
CKNW

Alaska Airlines jet kills brown bear at Yakutat’s airport
Passengers weren't harmed, but a brown bear cub was orphaned.
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

New evidence suggests spate of Killer Whale-on-boat violence not tied to revenge but to fun
It was first reported, here, two months ago, that a pod of Killer Whales off the coasts of Spain and New Spain (i.e. Portugal) was exhibiting never-before-seen behavior in carrying out coordinated attacks on boats.
BeachGrit

Humpback whales have been spotted in an Australian river
East Alligator River is full of crocodiles, not alligators, and now humpback whales. If it came to a fight, who would win?
Kakadu National Park.
Stuff

Storm re-engineers mouth of Nome River
“My boys told me my cabin went into the river,” said Rita Hulkill, who is 82. “My cabin had been there since the 70s. The water has never been that high ever.”

Infection spreads at mink farms in Sweden
Coronavirus has been detected at a further three mink farms in southern Sweden, according to the National Veterinary Institute.
People in the vicinity of the farms are being tested for the virus, and Karl Ståhl at the National Veterinary Institute says they are in control of the situation.
Hjo, Västra Götaland, Sweden

Fall storm wreaks havoc
Starting on the night of Wednesday, November 4, and continuing through Friday, a major storm ripped through the Norton Sound region, causing widespread closures and some damaging flooding.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Covid in Scotland: Social distancing could wreck mountain footpaths
A surge in the popularity of hillwalking during this year's coronavirus pandemic has seen daily visitor numbers at Ben Lomond grow from 1,000 on a normal sunny weekend to around 2,000. Walkers leaving official paths to avoid other people is causing hillside erosion and damage to vegetation.
Mt. Ben Lomand

Record November warmth in Svalbard
At Longyearbyen airport, the peak temperature reached 9.2 °C for a short period, nearly two degrees warmer than the last November record measured in 1975.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Late Blooming Willow (genus Salix)
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Bear activity persists despite early snow
Two bears were shot in the Haines Borough this past weekend, both by homeowners defending chickens. Although bear-related calls to the police dipped after last week’s record-setting snowfall, the recent activity suggests this year’s Bearpocalypse is not yet over.
Chilkat Valley News

Feared sea urchin has come to Norway – Spreading like a plague
The species Japanese sea purse is found by divers in Stavanger harbour. "This is a plague we have been waiting for," says researcher Vivian Husa of the Institute of Marine Research. Now she particularly warns mussel breeders about the danger the species represents.
58.9812029, 5.7427645 Engøyholmen, Stavanger, Norway
Kyst og Fjord

Storms rip through Chicago area, with temperatures set to drop to 30s and 40s after record November heat wave
Winds of change — gusting as strong as 70 mph — were ending the November heat wave Tuesday with possibly severe storms, but Chicago first set records for warmth, including for seven consecutive days at 70 degrees or higher.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
chicagotribune.com

Two days of record-breaking temps in Lancaster came from 'mini November heat wave'; here's how hot it got
Lancaster city broke two records in the past two days with the "mini November heat wave" that brought unseasonably warm temperatures to the area over the past week.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
LancasterOnline

Harmful algal blooms found in Lake Placid and Lake George
The discoveries on Mirror Lake and Lake George spark concerns about the number of nutrients entering the lakes.
Lake George, New York, United States
NCPR

Arctic Archipelago Sees October Temps 10 Degrees Hotter Than Normal
The Russian archipelago of Severnaya Zemlya saw the largest temperature anomaly on the planet last month. Other surrounding parts of the Arctic were also extraordinarily warm in October. Temperature maps show that practically the whole northern Kara Sea and Laptev Sea was 6 and 8 degrees warmer than normal.
Severnaya Zemlya

In Southeast, this year's salmon harvest fell by more than half
Southeast’s total salmon harvest was 19 million fewer fish than last year. There was a drop in harvest for every species except chinook, which increased by a few thousand fish.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

Minor to Severe Erosion Across the Region Caused by Strong Bering Sea Storm
Late last week a strong Bering Sea storm hit the region, bringing winds up to 50mph, blowing snow, and high-water. Some communities saw significant erosion while others were mostly unscathed.

'No ordinary snow event': Saskatoon digging out from blizzard
People are advised to stay off the roads as city crews try to clear priority streets. Biggest snow event since the blizzard of 2007.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
The Star Phoenix

Heavy Rain Brings Severe Flooding to Greek Island of Crete
Authorities on the Greek Island of Crete say ongoing torrential rains have led to severe flooding that has turned roads into rivers, uprooted trees, damaged hundreds of homes and businesses and swept cars out to sea.
Emergency response officials say the worst damage occurred east of the island's capital, Iraklion, in small towns and villages, where schools were closed, and residents were advised to stay indoors.
Goúrnes, Crete, Greece
Voice of America

How warm has it been? Northeastern Wisconsin breaks record for all-time high temperatures in November
The average high was 52.3 degrees since the beginning of the month in Green Bay, the warmest weather ever. Last year, the average high was 29.7 degrees.
Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
MSN.com

Pacific Sand Lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) Make First Appearance
Pacific sand lance can be found along the Western and Southern coasts of Alaska, although their distribution is based on habitat availability. Computer models suggest that there is a low probability this habitat exists near Kivalina.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Philadelphia perching birds fighting over stripped chicken bone
This could point to potential climate or food shortage stressors affecting the feeding behaviors of the House Sparrows.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Coonstripe Shrimp (Pandalus hypsinotis) Found on Beach After Storm
Coonstripe shrimp (*Pandalus hypsinotis*) can be found at a depth of 30-300 feet in Norton Sound. During a strong storm, some washed up on a beach north of their known range.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Fairbanks sets snowfall record, braces for second winter storm
A total of 14.7 inches of snow fell between 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday, barely eclipsing the previous record for the date of 14.6 inches, set in 1970.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Russian scientists discover huge walrus haulout in Arctic circle
Scientists in northern Russia have discovered a huge walrus haulout on the shores of the Kara Sea where their habitat is under threat from shrinking ice and human activity. The haulout, a place of refuge where walruses congregate, reproduce, and socialise, is located in a remote corner of Russia's Yamal peninsula, and scientists say they counted over 3,000 animals there last month.
Kara Sea
Reuters

Warm weekend ahead as Åland sets latest November heat record
The mercury hit 16.6 degrees C at Mariehamn airport on Friday, beating Tuesday’s record-breaking high of 14.7 C in Pori.
Mariehamn, Mariehamns stad, Aland Islands, Finland

Search underway for bear following ‘predatory’ attack on a neighborhood dog in Sitka
The bear tore through a chain link enclosure around midnight on November 4, and killed a 125-pound mixed-breed dog belonging to Georgiana Smith — who immediately informed her Indian River-area neighbors of the incident on the Sitka Bear Report Facebook page.

30 degrees warmer than last year
On Friday, it was measured 12.8 degrees C in Folldal, over 30 degrees warmer than on the same day last year.
Folldal, Innlandet, Norway

Storm Eta: Guatemala landslide kills at least 50
Rescue efforts continue as the storm travels across the region, leaving a trail of destruction.
Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Yahoo.com

Scottish islands under threat from rising sea levels
The Outer Hebrides are already suffering from the impacts of climate change including higher tides, longer storms and erosion.
Benbecula, Scotland, United Kingdom

Dead humpback whale floating in waters off Cape May County
The whale has likely been dead for several days.
Sea Isle City, New Jersey, United States
nj

Hokkaido city deploys 'monster wolf' robot to scare bears away from residential areas
For years in Takikawa there was perhaps one bear sighting every few years, but since May 28 there have already been a total of 10 this year.
Takikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
The Mainichi

Blizzard sets daily snowfall record
Last weekend's blizzard caused the Haines Borough School District to close Monday after 16 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours--a record high for daily snowfall according to National Weather Service data.

Visible Damage to Cancún's Trees
Trees which normally obscure the view of the sea, have lost all of their leaves.
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

November temperature record reached in Finland
A high of 14.7 degrees Celsius was measured in the southwestern city of Pori on Monday night.
Pori, Satakunta, Finland

Snow has meteorologist expressing his disbelief
Whitehorse residents woke this morning to their vehicles buried in snow, with even driveways being impassable, particularly for vehicles without four-wheel drive.
Whitehorse Daily Star

Monitoring program tracks invasive (Didemnum vexillum) or “marine vomit”
On 2 November 2020, the Japanese invertebarate *Didemnum vexillum* was detected by diver and underwater photographer Erling Svensen at Engøyholmen in Stavanger harbor. The aim of a new monitoring project is to register occurrences of the presumed recently arrived D. vexillum in the delimited areas, and then to map how it spreads locally, and also what impact it has on the local fauna.
Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway
havnespy.stavangerdykk.no

Highways reopening in southern Yukon after 'record-breaking territory' snowfall
Doug Lundquist, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, has worked in B.C. and Yukon for over three decades, and says he's "never quite seen a storm like this."

Russian Arctic Sea Fails to Freeze
For the first time since records began, the Laptev Sea has not yet formed sea ice by the end of October. Scientists attribute the lack of ice to early summer warming and an extreme heatwave in Siberia, as well as warm Atlantic currents flowing into the Arctic.
Laptev Sea

Air quality alert from wind storm and blowing ash
Strong northwesterly winds in the vicinity of Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes have picked up loose volcanic ash eruption and carried it to the southeast toward Kodiak Island today. The maximum cloud height is 5,000 ft above sea level. This is not the result of recent volcanic activity and occurs during times of high winds and dry snow-free conditions in the Katmai area.

Ábborášša reindeer owners feel that they were forced to move over thin ice
The reindeer owners feel they had to choose. Pay expensive fines or move with the reindeer across the river even if the ice was too thin. On Saturday, a thousand reindeer went through the ice in Vuorašjávri, a mile east of Kautokeino municipality in Finnmark.
Vuorašjávri, Kautokeino, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Norway sets records with warmest Oslo November day since 1800s
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
The Local

Covid had spared Alaska’s most remote villages. Not anymore.
Almost 20 percent of residents in one town have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Chevak, Alaska, United States
Washington Post

Mysterious Mass Deaths of African Cape Fur Seals Alarm Conservationists
The beaches of Namibia have been filled with thousands of seal fetuses. The problem was first detected in August, when observers began to see an unusual number of abortions and prematurely killed pups on the beaches of Pelican Point. Current estimates indicate about 5,000 have died in Pelican Point alone, although the precise reasons are still unknown.
Walvis Bay, Erongo, Namibia
Latin America Herald Tribune

New Methane Discharge Discovered in Russia's Arctic
The finding is prompting concerns that a new feedback loop that accelerates climate change may have already been triggered.

Heavy rains in Southeast Alaska block key roads on Prince of Wales Island
Heavy rains toppled trees and buried roads on Prince of Wales Island Monday. Local and state transportation crews are responding to at least seven landslides blocking roads on the Southeast Alaska island.
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Hurricane Zeta is ashore in resort zone of Mexico’s Yucatan
Zeta broke the record for the previous earliest 27th Atlantic named storm that formed Nov. 29, 2005. It’s also the 11th hurricane of the season. An average season sees six hurricanes and 12 named storms.
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
WTOP

Deep-diving whale dies after swimming up river
Finding the deep-diving species so far inland was incredible. Rescuers made a sterling effort to save the 21ft-long animal found in a tributary of the River Clyde near Glasgow Airport. Two died after stranding on shores of the Firth of Clyde and another in the Western Isles.
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Whale in Gare Loch rescue attempt found dead
The animal was part of a pod which rescuers hoped would swim to deeper water before a major military exercise.
Rosneath, Scotland, United Kingdom

Extreme rain brings flurry of landslides
Large amounts of precipitation triggered landslides across Prince of Wales Island, blocking roads and damaging at least one bridge.
Prince of Wales Island, Alaska

Mother of all jökulhlaups reported in Southeast Alaska
Scientists believe a massive glacial dam release - or jökulhlaup - recently occurred in Southeast Alaska. But they probably would not have known about it if they had not been tipped off by an observant commercial fisherman.

Brown bear cubs fall victim to adult males in Eurasia's largest protected population of the species
This spike of bear cannibalism is reported at the South-Kamchatka nature reserve in Kamchatka.The spike of cannibalism in brown bears is currently linked to the lower number of sockeye salmon getting to the lake from the Sea of Okhotsk.
Kronotsky Nature Reserve
Siberian times

Entomologists vacuum Asian giant hornets out of first nest found in Whatcom County
Washington State entomologists have spent weeks searching, trapping and using dental floss to tie tracking devices to Asian giant hornets in an effort to find the nest and destroy it. The nest was first discovered Thursday in a tree cavity, about eight feet up, on private property in Blaine. Heavily protected crews with WSDA worked to eradicate the nest early Saturday morning.
Blaine, Washington, United States

Waiting on a North Wind
The winds have been unusual this fall. Usually a north wind is "part and parcel of the turn of the season" but so far the wind has been "sporadic without a sense of direction."

Scientists found plastic debris in the digestive track of southern right whale stranded in Argentina
Scientists found plastic debris in the digestive tract of a southern right whale stranded in Argentina, according to a study from the Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program, co-led by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine; and Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas in Argentina.
Puerto Madryn, Chubut Province, Argentina
MercoPress

'Ursine terror': plea to improve habitat after spate of bear attacks in Japan
The attacks are being attributed to a shortage of acorns in the bears’ natural habitat, forcing them to wander into populated areas in search of food.
Takikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
The Guardian

Police kill brown bear believed responsible for vehicle damage
Two brown bears were killed in Haines last week, bringing the total killed outside hunting season in management unit 1D this year to 26. Bear calls to police have increased by about 600% compared to past years.

Damage from Fall Storm
Winds in Sand Point reached speeds higher than those predicted by the National Weather Service and caused damage to community infrastructure.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Anne Morris, Edward "Ted" Smith, Amber Hill

Ten polar bears - six adults and four cubs - besiege a stalled rubbish truck in Russian Arctic
Fellow driver tries to scare the predators away as they climb inside the truck to reach food scraps. All predators look healthy and well fed, however the author of the video suggests that it could have been hunger that made them surround the truck.

Tsunami warning issued following 7.4 magnitude earthquake off Alaska Peninsula
A tsunami warning was issued for areas along the Alaska Peninsula coastline following the 7.4 earthquake, which was centered 62 miles from Sand Point.
In this post, you can find links to the US Tsunami Warning Centers, as well as information on creating home emergency kits during COVID.
We hope everyone stays safe as this event unfolds, and welcome observations of conditions along the Alaska Peninsula.

Foreign trash continues to wash up on regional shores
Residents across the Bering Strait have continued to report unusual amounts of foreign trash washing up on their beaches. After months of working on the models, NOAA has been able to pin the source of the debris as likely somewhere southwest of St. Lawrence Island in the Gulf of Anadyr.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

2020 has been kind to Iceland’s eagles
2020 was the second most successful year on record for Iceland’s sea eagles. Currently there are 85 breeding pairs—mostly around the Breiðafjörður area. This year, there have been 51 eaglets from 60 nests.
Stykkishólmur, West, Iceland

Beluga Family Rescued From Low Tide by Russian Emergency Worker
Residents of the coastal Chumikan village reported two adult whales and one baby on Wednesday afternoon, on a shore of the Uda River that flows into the sea. Alexei Paramonov spent hours protecting the pod from wild animals and poachers and saved the baby whale from hypothermia.
Chumikan, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia

Dead giant octopuses washed ashore south from Kamchtka peninsula on the Kuril Islands
A mass die off of fish and invertebrates has been reported in the Sea of Okhotsk, west of Kamchatka. Dozens of surfers reported symptoms including including poor eyesight, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and head and throat aches.
Severo-Kuril’sk, Sakhalin, Russia

Beached bowhead whales in Nunavut point to killer whale attacks
This past weekend a group of hunters on all-terrain vehicles found four dead bowhead whales lying on a beach about 60 kilometres north of the Nunavut community of Kugaaruk. Photos of the bowhead whales taken by Rene Kukkuvak, appear to have a torn tongues and rake-like gouges.
Kugaaruk, Nunavut, Canada

Lone Scottish dolphin spotted off Denmark
The Moray Firth dolphins have been moving out of their normal range in Scotland waters. A dolphin known as Yoda is the latest member to be spotted far from home. Another Moray Firth dolphin has been seen in the Irish Sea.
Svendborg, South Denmark, Denmark

Why so glum, chum? Scientists perplexed by this year's low chum salmon numbers in Yukon River
This year the Eagle station's fall chum estimate is 23,828 fish. This is far below the escapement goal of 70,000 to 104,000 fish.
Eagle, Alaska, United States

Alaska Grown Black Walnuts
The unthinkable (ripe Alaska walnuts) a few decades ago is potentially our new reality as our climate continues to shift (warmer summers and longer falls). As our climatic parameters shift, so does our opportunity to diversify our edible plantings!
Peter's Creek
Facebook - Alaska Home Gardeners Group

Salmonids in North Fork of Chester Creek
The number of salmon returning to Chester Creek has improved since 2008. This year, spawning salmon are lingering in the creek later than usual.

Infected Covid-19 patients climb in Arctic Alaska
October began with "an explosion" of COVID-19 positive cases despite efforts to tighten and extend restrictions. In the first five days 14 residents on the North Slope and 23 in the Northwest Arctic, upping active caseloads in each borough to 40 and 45, respectively.
The Arctic Sounder

A rare Jay spotted in Whitehorse. But was it a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) or Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)?
An unusual blue bird was sighted in Whitehorse this month. It was not captured on film but the observer thinks it was a Blue Jay or a Steller's Jay. A Steller's Jay was reported to eBird in Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, just two days later.

Hurricane Delta lashes Mexico's Yucatan, then heads for US
Hurricane Delta emerged into the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and headed toward Louisiana after making landfall just south of the Mexican resort of Cancun, toppling trees and and cutting power to residents of the Yucatan peninsula’s resort-studded coast.
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
AP NEWS

A Lily (genus Lilium) is Blooming in My Garden
Late-blooming lily may benefit from warm temperatures in late September/early October.
Palmer, Alaska

Foreign Trash Washing Up on Beaches
"We have been finding plastic bottles, glass bottles, couple life vests, and boots." The Bering Sea has noted an abundance of foreign debris washing up on our shores. Communities like Unalakleet, Gambell, Savoonga and Nome have all reported and documented hoards of this debris.
Shishmaref, Alaska

Worst plum season in 60 years
"It almost snowed when it was flowering. The bees were barely out, and we see the result of that here," said fruit farmer Kari Lutro. The decline for plums is as much as 90 percent, compared with last year.
Lofthus, Hordaland, Norway
Tale Hauso, Jon Bolstad, Sjur Mikal Dolve

Scientists suspect "Alaskapox" rash could be spread from small animals
The novel virus has only affected two people, both in Fairbanks. The "Alaskapox" was first identified in 2015 after a Fairbanks woman sought medical attention for a small skin lesion, pained fever and fatigue. In August, a second Fairbanks woman with no known connection to the first was found to have the virus. Scientists suspect both women may have gotten the virus from contact with small wild animals.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Late-blooming Rose (Rosa acicularis) in Fairbanks
Wild roses typically bloom in June and July, and go dormant when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.

Debris from 3/11 disaster now washing ashore across Okinawa
Plastic containers washed out to sea after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster are starting to wash up on the shores of Okinawa Prefecture, leaving residents puzzled at the time it took for the items to travel just 2,000 kilometers.
Naha, Okinawa, Japan
The Asahi Shimbun

Eco disaster at Kamchatka peninsula with mass death of sea animals at precious Pacific beach
Khalaktyrsky Beach near Petropavlovsk is littered with hundreds of dead sea animals, from deep-sea Giant Pacific octopuses, to seals, sea urchins, stars, crabs and fish. Surfers were the first to raise alarm after problems with eyesight, fevers and throat aches.
Khalaktyrsky Beach

Lots of Late Blooming Roses (Rosa acicularis)
Wild roses usually bloom in May and June, but warm fall temperatures may have signaled roses in Fairbanks to bloom later than usual.
Ester, Alaska, United States

Not much for berries or fireweed
"In a summer of continuous rainfall I would presume glorious growth and tons of picking...but this did not happen. The blueberries never took off, neither did the soap berries known to us as bear berries."

Big year for some biting insects, but not mosquitoes
Mosquito populations may be down, but the gnats, no-see-ums, white sox and several other unidentified bugs were relentless.

Rare King-of-the-salmon fish found on Vancouver Island
A rare deep-sea fish was discovered on Vancouver Island this month. A pair of friends, Natalie Mueller and Andie Lafrentz, were walking along Whiffin Spit in Sooke on Sept. 19 when they spotted what they first thought was a “large piece of scrap metal.”
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
CTV News - Vancouver Island

No treasure found under the rainbow: The soil is full of plastic garbage
In the pictures, Måøya looks like a pristine natural gem on the coast of Trøndelag. But when scientists and adolescents started digging into the soil, they got shock.
Måøya, Frøya, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway
Solvår Flatås, Stein Lorentzen, Morten Andersen

Bear in Denali National Park euthanized over safety concerns
The bear had entered buildings and food caches, according to National Park Service officials.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

After record-warm summer in Svalbard, extreme meltdown on the glacier
When glaciologist Jack Kohler returned to Austre Brøggerbreen in Svalbard, he was shocked. More than three meters of the ice at the glacier front had melted away. That's a record. And an ice tunnel had become a trench.
Austre Brøggerbreen, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Warmest late-September day in half a century as mercury hits 23.5C
An exceptionally warm air current from the southeast has kept days and nights unseasonably mild in southern and central Finland since last week. Meanwhile the north of the country has been shivering with rain and temperatures in the single digits. The highest reading in decades was recorded in Kokemäki, southwest Finland.
Kokemäki, Satakunta, Finland

Pandemic, restaurant slowdown blamed for rats in Portland neighborhoods
Exterminators are fielding more calls about rodent activity. Rat-related calls are up 20 percent from last year; include mice and calls are up 57 percent.
Portland, Maine, United States

Fish and Game is looking for a black bear that followed and charged people in Anchorage park
The repeated run-ins with the bear were part of the reason that one children's camp decided to move out of Russian Jack to another park.

Late Blooming Rose
A wild rose (*Rosa acicularis*) blooms late during a warm fall.
Willow, Alaska, United States

Record-breaking cold?
The thermometer at the main visitor centre in Þingvellir National Park went all the way down to –9.6°C last night and meteorologists confirm that is one of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in a built-up area at this time of year—and could even have been a new record.
Laugarvatn, South, Iceland

Russia’s coldest city suffocates under a thick blanket of smog from September wildfires
The lengthy wildfire season follows a record-hot Arctic summer. People living in Yakutsk are waking up to heavy smog brought from the wildfires raging to the west, east and north; struggling to breathe and with head, eye and throat aches.
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia

Badger on the Finnmark plateau: – very strange, but also very fun
Odd Arne Hætta thought his dog Leo had found an elk, but it turned out to be something else entirely. Badgers are not common so far north but, sporadic cases have been observed in the past, including in Skibotn in Troms.
Čuonjájávri, Kautokeino, Norway
Marie Elise Nystad, Tom Stian Tretnes Hansen

Hunter killed by bear in Wrangell-St. Elias died in ‘surprise attack’ while field-dressing moose, officials say
The National Park Service said a 22-year-old Ohio man was salvaging moose meat when he was killed in the national park’s first recorded fatal bear mauling.
Wrangall St. Elias National Park, Alaska, United States

Brown bear breaks into Alaska Zoo, kills alpaca named Caesar
The bear tunneled under the zoo’s perimeter fence and broke through the cedar split rail fence around the alpaca enclosure before killing Caesar, according to the zoo’s executive director, Pat Lampi. Another alpaca -- Fuzzy Charlie -- was found unhurt though wide-eyed and skittish.

Mt. Glittertind should be the highest - scientist surprised by what they discovered
Glittertind was for a long time Norway's highest mountain due to the large ice cap. But measurements in 1984 showed that the ice had diminished, and since then it has become the little brother to Galdhøpiggen.
Glittertinden, Lom, Norway

Rare fish washes ashore at Whiffen Spit
It was a king-of-the-salmon (Trachipterus altivelis), a deep-sea-dwelling species of ribbonfish. Its common name comes from the legends of the Makah people west of Strait of Juan de Fuca, which believe this “king” leads the salmon to their spawning grounds each year.
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Salmon and smiles: 30,000 pounds of fish distributed in Whitehorse
The Yukon First Nations Education Directorate gave away 30,000 pounds of free fish as part of its nutritional program in Whitehorse this week. People were particularly happy to receive the donation because salmon are well below the historical average this year.

After dry summer, Nome sets daily rain record
Nome recorded 1.27 inches of rain on Sept. 14

Gray heron seen for first time in contiguous US, as species expands range
This tall waterbird, native to Eurasia, was spotted in Nantucket. Could the species soon establish a foothold in the Americas?
Madaket, Massachusetts, United States
National Geographic

Juneau’s unsecured garbage and ‘bumper crop of yearling bears’ are a deadly combination
Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials say a bunch of young bears and a dwindling natural food supply are forcing the bruins to search human garbage for food before they hibernate for the winter.

Health advisory issued for CJ Strike Reservoir due to harmful algal bloom
The Central District Health Department as well as the Southwest District Health and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality says recent water samples indicate there were concentrations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria in the reservoir.
Mountain Home, Idaho, United States

Mushers react to scary closure of chum fishery
A lack of chum salmon is causing pain in riverside communities of Yukon and Alaska, as mushers are left without a traditional source of food.
Old Crow, Yukon, Canada

Emaciated grizzly found dead
Grizzly was found on Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw territory in Smith Inlet, 60K north of Port Hardy. The low number of salmon is not helping the bears, and a low count of berries.
Nekite River Estuary, Central Coast, British Columbia
Vancouver Island Free Daily
Binny Paul, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rare muskox sighting in Manokotak raises questions
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Manokotak, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Winds kick up century old volcanic ash in Alaska
Strong southerly winds picked up loose ash from a 1912 volcanic eruption, sending an ash cloud about 4,000 feet into the sky.
Novarupta Volcano

A large new ‘hole’ appears in Gydan tundra, following record-warm Arctic summer
A 200 metres wide thermocirque is discovered only weeks after scientists find funnel in the Yamal peninsula, caused by build up of methane.
село Гыда, Тазовский район, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Siberia Times

Chilkat sockeye, coho, chum runs appear low compared to past years
So far, the department has counted just under 37,000 fish at the Chilkat weir, well below the 10-year average of 80,000 fish. Zeiser said at this point in the season, it’s doubtful the run will hit the escapement range of 70,000 to 150,000 fish.

Well-Preserved Cave Bear Discovered in Russia’s Melting Arctic Permafrost
Reindeer herders in Russia's Arctic have discovered what scientists say is the first-ever cave bear carcass with soft tissues intact in the region's rapidly thawing permafrost.
Lyakhovsky Islands

Meet Nunavut's newest arrival: the beaver
A recent beaver catch in Baker Lake, along with this summer’s earlier beaver sighting near Kugluktuk, more than 1,000 kilometres northwest of Baker Lake, have some wondering whether beavers are expanding their range into Nunavut.
Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada

Exceptional Growing Conditions during Last Days of Summer Saves Potato Harvest
Potato farmers in Þykkvabær on Iceland’s south coast are thankful that the last days of summer were wet and warm. The spring was cold and early August was colder than it has been in living memory.
Þykkvibaer, South, Iceland

Odd shaped Low-bush Cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Pear shaped cranberries (*Vaccinium vitis-idaea*) are likely the result of a genetic mutation.
Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, United States
Regina Rovira, Matt Carlson, Katie Spellman

Veterinarians warn of unusual strain of kennel cough in dogs
A potentially dangerous dog virus is spreading among animals in the Wilmington area.
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Polar bear chased away with flares after wandering close to a secondary school at Chukotka
The Bear Patrol in is on high alert as predators are gathering by a walrus rookery. At least nine polar bears were noticed by residents of Ryrkaipiy, a village in the easternmost region of Chukotka.
Ryrkaypiy
Siberia Times

Cougar spotted on Ingraham Trail on Sunday: GNWT
Cougar sightings are rare in the North Slave region, but not unheard of. The big cat was seen at 1 p.m. crossing the highway at kilometre 49, between the Cameron Falls trailhead and Reid Lake campground.
NNSL Media

Yukon River fall chum run the worst on record
About 189,000 fall chum had entered the Yukon River as of Sept. 7. At least 300,000 fish must enter the river before either Alaska or Yukon fishers can begin harvesting.
Yukon News

Pink salmon catches in Nunavik are raising red flags for biologists
After learning about catches of pink salmon near Salluit, Quebec wildlife officials are urging any fishers who net the newcomers to report their catch. Two pink salmon were netted in Nunavik during the summer of 2019 in the Ungava Bay region, one near Kangirsuk.
Kangirsuk, Quebec, Canada

High winds, torrential rain wreck buildings in Sanikiluaq
“We stood at the window and we actually watched a shed get blown down the road. I saw an empty oil barrel get lifted up and put over a sea can. There were wires flying around,” Alison Drummond said.
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada

These are among the rarest birds you can see in Norway
This week, bird enthusiast Nils Harry Lillejord experienced a kind of "holy grail" for those who watch birds. When he was on his way to work, he saw a Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). The bird has only been seen twenty times since 1835.
Stormyrjordene, Bodø, Nordland, Norway

Rare ‘Ugly Duckling’ Albino Seal Pup in Far East Russia Wins Hearts
Scientists worry for the pup's survival. Due to the pup’s albinism, it not only has bad eyesight, but could also be ostracized by the colony due to its unique characteristics.
Tyuleny Island

Nunavut government limits hunting of Dolphin and Union caribou herds
The Government of Nunavut is restricting harvest due to what it calls “a recent steep decline in the population” of the herd. That decline has led to a “conservation concern” about the western Nunavut herd’s numbers.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada

Frost Damage Forces Farmers to Buy Hay
Sveinbjörn Þór Sigurðsson of Búvellir farm in Aðaldalur, North Iceland says 80-90% of his hay fields were frozen in spring, and dry weather exacerbated the situation.
Near Húsavík, Northeast, Iceland

Soybeans flourish in thawing permafrost
In the vast plains that blanket much of northern Russia a once-unthinkable business is taking hold – soybean farming. It’s the result of years of increasing global temperatures, which are thawing the permafrost and turning the land into fertile soil.
Зарайск, Зарайский район, Moscow, Russia
The Anniston Star

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in Manokotak
A muskox (*Ovibos moschatus*) seen farther inland than usual during mating season.
Manokotak, Alaska, United States

Second year of Hemlock Looper Moth (Lambdina fiscellaria) outbreak returns to North Vancouver in larger numbers
The Hemlock Looper Moth outbreak is said to last between 3-4 years and now coincides with an outbreak of Phantom Hemlock Looper which saw its last outbreak more than a decade ago.
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Stunning beach with hundreds of colourful sparkling pebbles damaged by typhoon Maysak
The remarkable glass beach was formed after years of dumping old vodka, wine and beer bottles, along with jars and ceramics during the Soviet era. Record strong wind destroyed at least half of the unique beach on Ussuri bay.
Siberia Times

Grey Pigeon (Columba livia)
Invasive pigeons have made their way out of Alaska's large cities to fish camps on the west side of Cook Inlet.
Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Why are spruce trees turning orange in the Alaska Range?
The answer to the Tang-colored mystery involves tiny spruce needle rust fungus spores that also rely on Labrador tea plants to survive.
Healy, Alaska, United States

Typhoon Maysak Batters Russia’s Far East
High winds reached speeds of up to 154 km/hr. At least three people died and dozens were injured. The storm unmoored a floating dry dock, causing it to slam into some of the vessels making up Russia's Pacific Fleet.

A pair of stranded killer whales (and a sick sea lion) has biologists looking for answers
“For the killer whales, I honestly don’t know if this is normal or not,” said Mandy Keogh, the Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries in Alaska. Dead killer whales simply aren’t seen that often.

Growth on Window After Storm
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States

Most of Hay River's 2 Seasons Adventures beach front campground wiped out by weekend storm
A Hay River tourism operation on the shoreline of Great Slave Lake has been hit hard by high water and high wind.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada

Researchers came to study Russian Arctic glacier, but found only big lake
The glaciologists from Moscow came too late to see the MGU glacier in the North Ural.

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Dead or Dying Eggs
Dead or dying eggs in a female coho salmon are a possible symptom of environmental stress felt by the fish. In Western Alaska, water levels have been low following a rapid spring snowmelt and low precipitation.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States
Jayde Ferguson, Erica Lujan, Richard L Thoman Jr, Ted Meyers

Rainiest summer on record in over 100 years
Prince Rupert residents only had one dry day during the entire month of August and got a third of their annual rainfall in three summer months.
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

As Arctic warming accelerates, permafrost thaw hits Alaska mine
The multinational company that operates the Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska says that thawing permafrost linked to global warming has forced it to spend nearly $20 million to manage its water storage and discharge.
Red Dog Mine, Alaska, United States
High North News

‘Merciless’ rain in Southeast Alaska breaks records, dampens spirits
Record rainfall in parts of Southeast are just one more reason 2020 will be a year some will be happy to forget. Ketchikan recorded 47 inches of rain from June to August.

Record heat in Svalbard is causing problems – Mine 7 inundated with meltwater
The glacier over Mine 7 in Adventdalen on Svalbard is thawing in the summer heat. This has resulted in a severe flood with thousands of liters of water.
Gruve 7, Advendtdalen, Svalbard
Anja Ariel Tørnes Brekke, Aslaug Aarsæther

Unalaska records 120 mph winds during record-breaking August storm
The strong winds toppled boats, threw shipping containers into the bay, and even blew the windows out of American President Lines crane. The winds came during a storm from the remnants of Typhoon Bavi.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Mystery lines on Haida Gwaii beach
I've asked quite a few of the elders here if they had ever seen and none of them said they had ever seen it, said Skidegate Chief Councillor Bill Yovanovich, who took the photos Saturday on Lina Island. They show small bits of white shells arranged into what appears to be an intentional grid pattern that stretches at least a hundred metres along the beach.
Lina Island, Haida Gwaii, Canada

Waterfowl Disappearance and Other Lake Ecosystem Changes
Residents note significant changes in the Christiansen Lake ecosystem since 2019. This includes fewer nesting birds, fish, and mammals around the lake, while the leech population has increased along with the occurrence of algal blooms.
Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Uncommon Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) Catch
Slimy sculpins (*Cottus cognatus*) are small, nocturnal, bottom-dwelling fish that lack a swim bladder to help them stay bouyant in the water. Their size and habitat allow them to easily avoid fishing gear designed for salmon.
North Fork Andreafski River

Huge explosion leaves crater 165ft deep in Arctic tundra
Giant hole, thought to have been caused by methane release, is biggest of its kind discovered in Russia’s Yamal peninsula. It is the 17th crater of its kind to be found and documented in Yamal since 2014.
Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Foreign plastic continues to wash up on region’s beaches
There has been a surge of plastic trash that has been washing up on beaches in Nome and across the Bering Strait Region.

Grasshoppers are Becoming More Common
Warming temperatures may support growing grasshopper populations along the southern Seward Peninsula.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Polar bear kills man in Norway's Arctic Svalbard islands
The man, identified as 38-year-old Dutch citizen was attacked in his tent before dawn and died shortly afterwards of his injuries. Svalbard officials say there were seven people on the site at the time and they are being looked after by health services.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Dead whales wash up near Unalaska, but pandemic complicates necropsies
Two dead whales have washed up on Unalaska's shores in the past week: an adult fin whale — which is the second largest mammal in the world — and a juvenile humpback.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Dead beluga calf poses questions for biologists
It is thought to be either an aborted fetus or a very young calf. The calf is one of six belugas that have been found dead this year, five in the last month.

Waterspout spotted off Newfoundland
Steve Angel was treated to quite a sight Monday afternoon: a non-tornadic waterspout dancing on the water off the coast of Stephenville, N.L.
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Polar bear mother brings her cubs into the Arctic town of Pevek in Chukotka
It is still not clear if the family was brought so close to people by hunger as most locals believe or, as one account suggests, out of fear of being followed by an aggressive large male.
Pevek, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Arctic ice extent is unlikely to hit a record-low minimum, but lingering ice is ‘thin and porous’
Large holes had developed by mid-August in the low-concentration ice in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, according to National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Low Water and Few Fish
Early snowmelt and low precipitation have led to low river water levels on the southern Seward Peninsula. Low water levels may be a contributing factor in observations of poor fishing, and poor fish health, along the western coast of Alaska.
Elim, Alaska, United States

Exposed Permafrost in Tundra
Permafrost is becoming exposed in Western Alaska, in areas where the landscape transitions to tundra.
Alakanuk, Alaska, United States

Caterpillar Causing Itchy Skin Likely a Rusty Tussock Caterpillar (Orgyia antiqua)
Rusty tussock caterpillars can cause skin irritation for people when handled individually, and are responsible to large defoliation events when populations are high.
Alakanuk, Alaska, United States

Low Water Makes Fishing Difficult
Early snowmelt and low rainfall contributed to low river levels near Nome, affecting the ability of residents to reach usual fishing spots.

Record-warm Arctic summer did not bring joy to wildlife
Climate change is triggering behavior change among animals across the Arctic. In Northern Siberia wild reindeer this summer started migrating almost a month earlier than normal.
Khatanga, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Fort St. John tornado event confirmed
Environment Canada is confirming a weak tornado that hit Fort St. John last month. The tornado was generated by a severe thunderstorm Aug.
Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
Alaska Highway News

Surprise flood kills salmon in West Iceland
A jökulhlaup flood struck West Iceland’s Hvítá river in the early hours of Tuesday morning when water from a lagoon by the Langjökull glacier suddenly broke a new path and flowed in a different direction. Thick glacial mud now coats the river banks, and much of Borgarfjörður fjord.

Recorded Tornado in Fort St. John
Tornados are a rare occurrence in BC and this tornado is the first one to be recorded in Fort St. John and surrounding area.
Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada

World waterspout record set over Great Lakes
At least 88 waterspouts or funnels were spotted across the Great Lakes this week, setting a new world record, according to the International Centre for Waterspout Research (ICWR).
Eastern Great Lakes
CTV News

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is branching and delayed flowering
I have never seen fireweed like this. It is not growing with the normal straight stalk. Is it fireweed? My yard is full of them.

Six whales die in largest stranding of its type in Ireland's history
The seven northern bottlenose dolphins were spotted stranded on a beach in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal, on the north west coast of Ireland, earlier today.
Ballintra, Ulster, Ireland
Mail Online

Heavy rains in Yukon and northern B.C. cause mudslides, highway closures
Heavy rains in Yukon and northern B.C. take a toll as overflowing creeks bring silt and debris down onto roads.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Heavy rains, floods in China strand dozens on rooftops, triggering landslides
Authorities deployed helicopters in western China on Tuesday to rescue people stranded by flooding as heavy rain swelled the Yangtze and other rivers to dangerous levels, state media reported.
Neijiang, Sichuan, China
Fox News

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Floating by Moller Point
Between 2015 and 2020, two Unusual Mortality Events have been declared for wales along the western coast of British Colombia and the United States, indicating the possibility of a disturbance to the marine ecosystem.
King Cove Alaska

As temperatures soar, fires south of Cheney burn 200 acres, prompt evacuations
Personnel from Spokane County Fire District 3 and the state Department of Natural Resources were working to contain the fires on Monday, while a record-breaking heat wave threatened to maintain ample supplies of dry air and fuel.
Cheney, Washington, United States
Spokesman.com

Las Vegas heat wave has another week to go, at least
The extended heat wave will continue through the week, according to the National Weather Service.
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Foreign Marine Debris Found in the Bering Sea
The Bering Sea has noted an abundance of foreign debris washing up on our shores. Communities like Unalakleet, Gambell, Savoonga and Nome have all reported and documented hoards of this debris.
Kawerak

Barrels with unknown substance were found on the lake shore in the Leningrad Region
Specialists of Rospotrebnadzor in the Leningrad Region are checking 12 barrels with unknown substance near Lake Voloyarvi.
Saint Petersburg, St.-Petersburg, Russia
Russian newspaper

Death Valley hits 130 degrees, thought to be highest temperature on Earth in nearly a century
Death Valley may have recorded Earth's highest temperature in 90 years. Data show it is also be among the top three highest temperatures ever measured in Death Valley.
Death Valley, California, United States
Los Angeles Times

Juneau Raptor Center dealing with rain of injured eagles
Eight raptor casualties in a matter of weeks is a worrisome spike.

Yakutia has a MASSIVE hole in the ground... and it’s growing
Today, the fault measures around a kilometer in length, 800 meters in width and 100 meters in depth, making it the largest permafrost thermokarst sinkhole in the world. Its shape is reminiscent of a gigantic mollusc with a tail.
Ese-Khayya, Sakha, Russia
Russian Beyond

Whale Carcass on McDonald Spit
Partially decomposed whale
McDonald Spit, Alaska, United States

Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee recommends halt on fishing for Chinook
The Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee is recommending the complete cessation of fishing for Chinook salmon this year on the Yukon River.

Miami-Dade fireboats hit the water to help with major fish kill in South Florida waters
Another day of dead marine life surfacing in Biscayne Bay as the swath of suffocated fish appears to be spreading.
Miami, Florida, United States
WPLG

As red algal blooms surface on Dal Lake, LAWDA to use aerators, motorboats
Locals Saturday expressed resentment over the presence of a red algal bloom on Dal surface that has completely changed the lake’s colour into yellowish.
Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Rising Kashmir

Abundant Aphids and Defoliator Attack
Forests around Gakona saw abundant aphids and defoliation from sawflies or caterpillars.

Three great white sharks venture 'very tight' to Nova Scotia shores
Three great white sharks broke the border rules big-time on Friday. The sharks were tracking very tight to shore near South Shore communities.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada

Storm causes flooding of cemetery
The cemetery in Eggedal has suffered major damage after floods and landslides. "Thank God that coffins and remains have not appeared," says the church guardian.
Eggedal kirke, Sigdal, Norway

Saving Our Seals - 28 sea mammals rescued after becoming trapped in plastic junk
This was a first expedition by volunteers and activists to rescue seals trapped in plastic rubbish on the island, a breeding ground in the Sea of Okhotsk, off Sakhalin.

U.S. officials allow killing of sea lions eating at-risk salmon and steelhead in Columbia River watershed
The sea lions have posed a long-running conundrum for wildlife officials, pitting mammals protected under federal law against protected — and valuable — fish runs.
Portland, Oregon, United States

Biologists hope dead sea lion will provide insight into endangered Aleutian population
Officials have been receiving reports of Steller sea lions hauling out on beaches in poor condition, but have been unable to retrieve the animals for research — largely because they are in remote areas.

Salmon rivers closed in face of high temperatures, low water
Salmon rivers like the Exploits River were closed to anglers around the province by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans earlier this week because of low water levels.
Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Sunken Earth
Permafrost thaw is causing tundra to sink and pool water.
Chevak, Alaska, United States

Chum runs on Kuskokwim River are late and low
Usually Aug. 7 is the midpoint of the coho run, but this year it was not until Aug. 8 that numbers at the Bethel test fishery increased, and then only modestly.

Pacific walrus haulout is earliest on record
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Point Lay, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Rare white orca spotted off Kupreanof Island
This orca born in 2018 is called Tl’uk, a Coast Salish word for “moon.” Tl’uk is a greyish moon color, without the typical black and white pattern.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States

Martelle residents react to devastating severe thunderstorm
Jones County has one of the areas hit the hardest by Monday's severe storms.
Tama, Iowa, United States

They're everywhere - but do they pinch?
The changing summer weather has led to a scissor-like boom in Southern Norway. Biologist reassures those who feel threatened.
Vestby, Akershus, Norway
Lise Gro Andersen, Christian Nicolai Bjørke, Lars Håkon Pedersen

Russia begins mass vaccination against bubonic plague in danger areas near border with Mongolia
Urgent steps were taken after a wide spread of the pathogen via fleas was detected in two districts - Ovyursky and Mongun-Taiginsky So far 2,500 adults, and 623 children were vaccinated to prevent flea-spreading of the decease.
Republic of Tuva

Seiners in Southeast Alaska rescue an unlikely hard-shelled visitor
A fishing crew near Prince of Wales Island recently made an unusual catch: a Pacific green sea turtle. This not only excited the crew, but has also caught the attention of marine biologists.

The cause of the mass mortality of fish in a large river in the Tyumen region has been determined
Local residents made a mound that led to the shallowing of the reservoir.
Тюмень, Tjumen, Russia
Radio Sputnik

Not a good salmon season in the Far East and fishery closes in an area of ​​Kamchatka
Петропавловск-Камчатский, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
FIS World News

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) has multiple stalks
This is the first time I recall seeing Fireweed that has a form like this.

Fairbanks North Star Borough sees rainiest 12-month period on record
That it’s been a rainy spring and summer is news to no one. But just how wet have the past 12 months been for Fairbanks? According to data compiled by

Salmon Is Disappearing From Russia’s Amur River. It’s Taking Local Tradition With It
The Amur River, once full of salmon, has seen the fish all but vanish since 2017. The problem started because of over fishing. At first companies were harvesting in the first 100 kilometers of the river, and since they have expanded 700, 800 kilometers upstream.
Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia

In Ufa, a heavy downpour fell down trees and left houses without light
Eyewitnesses posted photos and videos on social networks showing people walking knee-deep in water.
Уфа, Bashkortostan, Russia
Russian newspaper

Last fully intact ice shelf in Canadian Arctic collapses
It lost more than 40 per cent of its area in just two days at the end of July, researchers said on Thursday.
Milne Ice Shelf

Fuel spill on the Ambarna River in Norilsk
The spill of the fuel-water mixture occurred on the Ambarnaya River in Norilsk during the clean up from the consequences of the accident at the TPP-3.
Норильск, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia
RT

Blocked storm sewer eliminates effects of the oil spill
Experts found an airlock in the sewer, which was clogged with garbage and contaminated with oil products.
Сургут, Khanty-Mansiyskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
RT

Resident harvests wayward moose wandering near Utqiagvik
Alaska Department of Fish and Game records show two other unusually wayward moose hunts: One in 2016 taken north of Teshekpuk Lake along the Arctic coast, and another in 2014 on the Kokolik River near Point Lay.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Large forest fire localized in Bilibin district
On Tuesday, August 4, paratroopers of Chukchi and Federal Aviation Protection stopped the spread of a large fire in the Bilibin district.
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Анадырь - Онлайн

Severe drought causes emergency declarations
Because of the severe drought, the Kalmykia authorities have imposed an emergency declaration in seven districts. Since the beginning of summer there has been extreme heat and wind and little rain.
Kalmykia, Russia
Российская газета

Western Red Cedar die-off in Pacific Spirit Park
In the last few years, I have observed a significant die-off of Western red cedar in several high traffic and peripheral areas of Pacific Spirit Regional Park (PSRP). The majority of the cedar trees I saw were noticeably consumed by browning, small, and young, with most likely more shallow root systems. This is consistent with vegetative stress to which young trees have not developed resilience, but older trees may be less impacted
David Oswald, Cody Thomas, Lauren Wright

Black bear injures Juneau man after following him through open door
With few fish and limited berries, bear encounters are high in Alaska's capital city this year.

Oil spill in The Komi Republic
In the Usin district of the Komi Republic in Russia, there was an oil spill due to the damage to the pressure pipeline.
Komi, Russia
RT

Polar bear noticed near an urban-type settlement called Ugolnye Kopi
A polar bear was noticed 15 kilometers from an urban-type settlement in Anadyrsky District called Ugolnye Kopi on the morning of August 3. The predator was walking to the shore of the Anadyr estuary.
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Anadyr Online

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in Napaimute
This is the second sighting of muskox in the Middle Kuskokwim, which is outside their known range.
Napaimute, Alaska, United States

Watson Lake resident captures 'first record' of ghost moth in Yukon
A longtime resident of Watson Lake, Yukon, has contributed to the world of science — simply by taking a picture.
Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada

Cloudberry bogs are collapsing - climate change is to blame
In Finnmark and parts of Troms, good and favorite berry bogs have cracked and disappeared. The reason is warmer and more humid climate. "Almost impossible to reverse," says a bog researcher.
Karasjok, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

White bear on the Junjik River
Unusual coloration in bears is often the result of a recessive gene combination. According to researchers at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, light colored bears have been found in Interior Alaska, although this is the first observation of one submitted to LEO.
Allakaket, Alaska, United States

Wildfire smoke from Siberia keeps drifting into Alaska — and may continue to do so for weeks
A haze visible through Southcentral Alaska on Wednesday was caused by smoke from fires burning in Siberia that began flowing into Alaska in early July.

In the Altai region, farmers lost 700 million rubles due to drought
The emergency was declared on July 10 due to drought and crop loss. According to the regional Ministry of Agriculture, crops in the region have completely burned on an area of more than 155,000 hectares. Direct damage to agricultural producers exceeded 700 million rubles, and the cost of the lost harvest is estimated at ten billion rubles.
Барнаул, Altai Krai, Russia
Российская газета

Climate change hits back, Svalbard coal mine flooded by melting glacier
After days with record heat at Svalbard, the penetration of water from the above melting glacier is now flooding Norway’s only operating coal mine that supplies the country’s only coal-power plant.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

In Kuban, a shepherd was killed by lightning while grazing cows
In the Assumption district of Kuban, a shepherd was killed by lightning while grazing cows. This was reported by the head of the department for go and emergency affairs of the local administration Svetlana Ivanchenko.
Кубань, Гулькевичский район, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Российская газета

On Stavropol storm wind with a downpour damaged school and homes
On the night of July 29 in the Stavropol region, a sharp deterioration in the weather led to severe consequences. Stormy winds with a downpour damaged power lines and uprooted trees.
Stavropol Krai, Russia

Planet Alaska: The lool always knows
This summer, fireweed has been telling us to prepare for winter. It's been telling us the season is off kilter, too. Here in Juneau we've had fireweed plants that are blooming halfway up the stalk growing next to fireweed with barely any buds.

Summer resident killed by great white in Maine’s first fatal shark attack
Julie Dimperio Holowach, a recently retired fashion executive from New York City, was swimming near Bailey Island on Monday afternoon when she was attacked.
Portland, Maine, United States

Invasive grass carp caught in Chambly Basin
Scientists say the grass carp population in the Chambly Basin is probably small, but the presence of this species in any number is bad news.
Chambly, Quebec, Canada
Montreal Gazette

Even the low temperatures are breaking heat records in Portland
Temperatures are expected to remain above 80 degrees for the rest of the week.

Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium passerinum) Arrives in the Swamp
Orchids often reproduce by sending up additional shoots from the rhizome, but can produce seeds. When they do, the seeds are lightweight and are easily blown around by the wind. The dried swamp may have provided the right nutrients and optimal environment for germination.

Phytoplankton Surge in Arctic Waters
The image shows a bloom of phytoplankton in the Barents Sea, north of Scandinavia and Russia.The floating plant-like organisms are showing up in higher concentrations across the Arctic Ocean.
Barents Sea
NASA Earth Observatory

Yukon sees most mosquitoes in many years, control program says
It may not come as a surprise, but Yukon has seen an unusually high number of mosquitoes this year — and they aren't physically distancing.

Unusually cold July in Hedmark
The last two nights have been cold in the country. In Hedmark, the 56-year-old cold record for July has been beaten.
Dalholen, Folldal, Norway

Hottest Ever Day Recorded in Arctic Svalbard
It was hotter today on Svalbard than in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. So much so, that the previous temperature record from 1979 was smashed.
Life in Norway

Puffin saved by lucky chance
A group on a glacier expedition on Langjökull yesterday stumbled across a puffin lying in the snow. According to group leader Martha Jónasdóttir, the bird was found right at the centre of the glacier—Iceland's second-largest.
Borgarnes, West, Iceland

Leduc County declares state of agricultural disaster amid wet conditions
Due to excessively wet weather, Leduc County has declared a municipal state of agricultural disaster.
Leduc County, Alberta, Canada

Bear chases child near Whitehorse before mom intercepts, say conservation officers
Yukon conservation officers are patrolling after a black bear chased a child near Whitehorse last weekend. The boy's mom managed to get between her child and the animal.

Spruce Trees Producing Huge Amounts of Cones
Unusually large cone crops may be the result of favorable variations in weather across several years.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Major Coastal Erosion near Kotzebue
The rate of coastal erosion seems to be speeding up near Cape Blossom.
Cape Blossom, Alaska, United States
Jimmy Evak, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Vladimir Romanovsky

Low Swedish wasp numbers defy expert expectations
It was supposed to be a vintage year for Sweden's wasp population, but instead of an increase in numbers the population has been unexpectedly low. Unseasonable ...
Sweden

In Photos: Disastrous Wildfires Sweep Siberia
Gallery | The forest fires have covered an area larger than Greece and are emitting black smog that harms nearby populations.

Boost in bear activity means extra safety measures
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Dillingham, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Timed
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes King Cove
"I got under my kitchen table and it was very violent and loud and lasted quite a while. The tsunami sirens started right after it stopped."
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Tsunami warning canceled for swath of coastal Alaska after 7.8 earthquake prompts evacuations
People in Kodiak, Homer and Sand Point were among those who headed to higher ground after the quake prompted a tsunami warning from the Alaska Peninsula to the western Kenai Peninsula.
Chignik, Alaska, United States

Homer residents briefly evacuate after quake, tsunami warning
Coastal Alaskans were roused out of bed last night following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami warning. The warning was canceled within a matter of hours.
Homer News

Iqaluit sees record-breaking rainfalls this week
Iqaluit saw record rainfall yesterday, creating turbulent streams. Heavy precipitation may lead to fat berries and caribou, and lots of mosquitoes.

Rare white grizzly bear captured on camera in B.C. park
Named Nakoda by locals, the bear has been seen in Yoho and Banff national parks before, but not very often.

July on pace to set rainfall record in Yellowknife
With several days left in July, there's a chance that Yellowknife may be on track to break the monthly and summer records for precipitation.

Unusual Pink Caterpillar is a Sawfly Larvae
This pink larvae will grow into a sawfly, which are common across Alaska although not often noticed.
Grayling, Alaska, United States

All forest fires extinguished in Chukotka
All forest fires have been extinguished in Chukotka, where thousands of hectares of natural areas have been blazing before, according to the region's Department of Natural Resources and Ecology. RIA Novosti, 20.07.2020
РИА Новости

Orange weather warning: “Like a wall of rain”
The yellow weather alert released yesterday for north and west Iceland has been strengthened to an orange weather warning for the Westfjords region that will stay in effect until midnight. Wind and rain are causing severe disruption.
Ísafjörður, Westfjords, Iceland

Dead Seal On The Beach
King Cove Alaska

A bear walks the streets of Anadyr
On Thursday, July 16, a bear walking around the city was found in the district capital. This was reported at 2.00 a.m. by a resident of the village of Tavaivaam to the senior operational duty of the Crisis Management Center...
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Анадырь - Онлайн

Russian Wildfire Smoke Choking Siberian Cities
Photos of Yugorsk and other cities showed residential buildings fuzzy under a blanket of white smog.
Yugorsk, Khanty-Mansiyskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Summer of the Fly
We are seeing these little flies every outdoors. I don’t recall them like this in the past.

Some salmon return, but ‘not nearly enough’
Chum salmon have started returning the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. Hatchery on Channel Drive, but it’s still not enough to establish a broodstock. As the hatchery struggles to ensure future stocks, fishermen are taking what fish they can just for cost recovery.

Finland to bask in warm weekend weather
Conditions will heat up with every passing day and weekend highs will be in the 20s across the country.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Eastern Ontario in grip of worst Gypsy moth outbreak in 30 years
The worst Gypsy moth caterpillar outbreak in Eastern Ontario in 30 years is ripping through city backyard trees and rural forests at an alarming rate.Some pockets of forest north of Belleville, along Highway 7, look like stands of giant toothpicks after being picked clean of their foliage.
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Belleville Intelligencer

A person was fatally poisoned by mussels in Dutch Harbor, and now Alaska warns of high toxin levels
A person has died from paralytic shellfish poisoning after eating blue mussels and snails in the Aleutian Island community of Unalaska, state health officials confirmed Wednesday.
KCUB Unalaska

Eastern Ontario in grip of worst Gypsy moth outbreak in 30 years
The worst Gypsy moth caterpillar outbreak in Eastern Ontario in 30 years is ripping through city backyard trees and rural forests at an alarming rate.Some pockets of forest north of Belleville, along Highway 7, look like stands of giant toothpicks after being picked clean of their foliage.
Eastern Canada
Belleville Intelligencer

Red Growth On Aspen Trees are Diplodia Galls (Diplodia tumefaciens)
Diplodia galls are caused by a fungus that causes the tree to overproduce in certain areas. This generally will not kill the tree, but does make the tree more prone to breakage in areas where galls are found.

Brown booby makes rare visit to Ireland
Birders are continuing to flock to Greystones in Co Wicklow after what is believed to be the first ever sighting of a brown booby in Ireland.
Greystones, Leinster, Ireland
RTE.ie

Fisherman snags barracuda off Vancouver Island in rare encounter
Ferocious fish, not native to Canada, was netted and released in Alberni Inlet
Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island, Canada
Port Alberni Valley News

﻿ ﻿Reports of dead seabirds raise concerns of another die-off
﻿The last few weeks have seen another alarming uptick in the number of dead, emaciated seabirds found washed  up on the shores in the Bering Sea.

Early Ripe Blueberries
Moose Mountain, Fairbanks, AK

The volume of the fuel spilled in Taimyr has more than doubled
The volume of spilled aviation fuel near the village of Tukhard in the Krasnoyarsk region has more than doubled, to 44.5 tons, the press service reported.
Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Radio Sputnik

Nearly 300 Wildfires in Siberia Amid Record Warm Weather
Russia's Aerial Forest Protection Service is trying to suppress 136 fires over 43,000 hectares. Firefighters are using explosives to contain the fires and seeding clouds with silver iodide to encourage rain.
Sakha, Russia

Unusual Plant at Lake is Northern Groundcone (Boschniakia rossica)
I have not seen this before at Cheney Lake.

Tuktoyaktuk working with feds to address climate change and eroding shoreline
"If we can protect the shoreline for another 30 years, it will give us time to move inland because we all can't up and leave tomorrow," Mayor Elias said.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Multi-headed Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
Browsing moose may have damaged the primary flowering shoot of the fireweed, causing it to form multiple blooming stalks.
Ester, Alaska, United States

Thousands of blue jellyfish clog cooling system in Israeli power plant
Thousands of jellyfish clogged up a cooling system and threatened to suspend production at a power plant in Israel. Video filmed at the Electric Company power plant on Thursday shows the light blue sea creatures being swept down a chute and into a bin. The power plant, based in the coastal city of Ashkelon, about 15 miles north of the Gaza strip, uses seawater to cool its
Ashqelon, Southern District, Israel

Miners hunting for metals to battery cars threaten Sámi reindeer herder's homeland
Tuomas Siilasjoki and Minna Näkkäläjärvi say they were taken by surprise when a mobile drill rig one day appeared in the horizon. Nobody had asked them about exploring for minerals inside their siida, a reindeer foraging area, in northern Finland.

Woman killed after bear attack in Krasnoyarsk region
A resident of Krasnoyarsk region died as a result of a bear attack in Krasnoyarsk region. Rescuers recommend residents of the region to refrain from visiting the forests.The incident occurred in the Yenisei district. Not far from the village of Baikal, a woman with her husband and child was resting near the lake. A bear came out of the pond and attacked the victim. The predator managed to drive away, after which the husband took the victim to the hospital. The woman died on the way to the medical facility, KrasnoyarskMedia reports.
Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Известия

Haven't expected fewer plums in ten years
You have to be early if you want plums this year. The cause is cold in flowering. It almost snowed when it was flowering. The bees were barely out, and we can see the result here.
Nedstrand, Tysvær
Tale Hauso, Valentina Baisotti, Rosa Iren Villalobos, Mari Rollag Evensen

California condors return to Sequoia National Park for the 1st time in decades
They were sighted in an area that was historically part of the endangered bird’s range. At least six visited the park in late May.
KTLA

Seem hazy lately? Smoke from wildfires in Siberia might be what you’re noticing
Smoke from wildfires in Siberia drifted to Alaska last year as well, according to the National Weather Service, but Alaska already had hazy skies from local wildfires.

Wild Boars Appear in Moscow Parks, Officials Warn
If you meet one don't look it in the eye.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia

Cinnamon-coloured bear with distinctive neck spotted in Fort Good Hope
What has people talking is the length of the bear’s neck. Some locals wondered if it might be a hybrid polar bear and grizzly or black bear, but officials say it's likely a juvenile black bear.
Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, Canada

Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) in Kachemak Bay
Until 2007, there have been only three verified reports of green sturgeon in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, and two anecdotal reports from the Copper River and Unalaska areas.
Halibut Cove, Alaska, United States

Blueberries (Vaccinium uliginosum) at 60-mile Steese
These berries were on a south slope in a recently burned area. Seems early to me!
Pleasant Valley, Alaska, United States

Pelicans spotted as far north as Kugluktuk, Nunavut
The arrival of pelicans in Kugluktuk, Nunavut was a surprise, but it's a sign of healthy pelican colonies in general, and in particular of the colony near Fort Smith, N.W.T.
Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada

Measured new cold record in Inland Norway
On Saturday night a new cold record was measured for July at Sognefjellshytta. There is unusually high cold and wind in several places in Norway right now. And little indicates improvement over the next few days.
Sognefjellshytta, Lom kommune
Vibeke Cederkvist, Maria Gran, Even Lusæter

‘A grave concern’: European green crabs discovered on Haida Gwaii
There are many types of crabs that are green in colour, but only the European green crab has five spines on the outside of each eye. The aggressive invasive species was discovered in Skidegate Inlet; and now working group formed to decide next steps.
Skidegate 1, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News

Odd Looking Bug is a Sawfly
This odd, bright green, bug is a species of sawfly belonging to the family Tenthredinidae.
Aniak, Alaska, United States

Botswana reports mysterious deaths of hundreds of elephants
Officials in the southern African nation have confirmed at least 275 deaths mainly near seasonal water pans. Both male and female elephants of all ages died, with clinical signs limited to neurologic symptoms.
Okavango Delta

Jellyfish the size of dinner plates on Northeast beaches
Some beaches in the northeastern United States are dealing with more than the threat of COVID-19 this holiday weekend. They have to contend with an unwelcome visitor: the Lion's Mane jellyfish.
Scituate, Massachusetts, United States

Muhos forest fire aftermath
The blaze destroyed large swathes of forest this week.
Muhos, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland

Is this Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Sick?
"It's been sitting up on the beach just putting his head up towards the sky and not making a sound."
King Cove

Mongolia Quarantines Russian Border Region Over Bubonic Plague Suspicion
Lab tests confirmed that two individuals had contracted the illness after eating marmot meat.
Khovd, Hovd, Mongolia

Snow on mountain passes: – Should consider winter tires
Low temperatures and precipitation in the form of snow have been reported on several transitions during the day.
Jondal, Vestland, Norway

Mosquito species that could spread malaria found in Finland
*Anopheles daciae*, commonly found in eastern Europe and the Balkan States and thought to be possible carriers of malaria, has been observed in several regions of Finland.
Finland

New song in Canada's white-throated sparrows
Most bird species are slow to change their songs, preferring to stick with tried-and-true tunes to defend territories and attract females — but this shift went viral across Canada.
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Arctic fires worsen and threaten world famous park set up to recreate flora of woolly mammoth era
Worrying videos and pictures show how the pristine polar region of northern Yakutia is ablaze.
Cherskiy, Sakha, Russia

Southern resident whales returning later to Salish Sea in ‘drastic’ change
Southern resident killer whales made their first appearance in the Salish Sea on Canada Day after more than two months with only a brief sighting off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Strait of Georgia
Times Colonist

Nearly 60,000 homes left without power following Päivö’s stormy winds
Trees across the region were torn down by the stormy gusts, falling on houses, cars and power lines.
Lieksa, North Karelia, Finland

Extremely Wet June
Fairbanks summers are trending toward more precipitation. June 2020 set two rainfall records for the Fairbanks area.

Plastic pollution in Thailand soars during Covid-19 pandemic
Thai canals are clogged with discarded packaging, landfills are overflowing with mountains of bags, and trash bins are stuffed full of crumpled food wrapping.
Thailand
South China Morning Post

Siberian Wildfires Swell Amid Historic Heatwave
Most of the blazes are in a region that saw possibly the hottest-ever temperature above the Arctic Circle this month.
Verkhoyansk, Sakha, Russia

"Nothing unnatural," about missing lake
Experts established that large snow masses dislodged the water from the lake, which contributed to the passage of melt water towards the Urushten River.
Сочи, Krasnodarskiy, Russia
Радио Sputnik

Dead Baby Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris)
First time we have ever seen a dead pup.

Millions of moths descend on Quebec cities
A viral video shows the insects blanketing the vehicles in an auto dealership parking lot. The incidence of swarming of this species of moth, aspen tortrix, is increasing.
Roberval, Quebec, Canada

Wasp Gall on Rosebush
Small spiny growths on a rosebush resemble spiny galls created by cynipid wasps.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

Nordics detect elevated radiation levels around Baltic
Finland says the low concentrations of radioactive material found in air samples pose no danger.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Blueberries in June
Manley hotspring road

Beluga off San Diego is farthest south the species has been documented on West Coast
A beluga whale was spotted Friday off San Diego -- the farthest south the species has been documented on the West Coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed.
Point Loma, Coronado, California, United States
FOX 5 San Diego

Pollution of Chernavka River recorded in Khimki
According to preliminary data, the source of pollution is the storm sewer collector operated by the Khimvodostok Municipal Unitary Enterprise.
Химки, Moscow, Russia

Alaska SeaLife Center takes on 6 rescued harbor seal pups
The Seward facility began housing five seals found in the Cook Inlet area and another that was rescued in Juneau.
Seward, Alaska, United States

Emerald ash borer keeping some GRCA properties closed
That includes the trail at the south end of Wrigley Lake in North Dumfries
Byng Island Conservation Area, Ontario
KitchenerToday.com

Walrus tongue tests positive for trichinella in Rankin Inlet
A public health advisory sent out Friday says anyone who has eaten uncooked walrus recently, and has experienced stomach pain, muscle pain, diarrhea, swollen eyelids, sweating and weakness, may be infected with trichinella, 'a parasite that causes worm disease.'
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

Finnish summer heat record broken again on Thursday
Finland is continuing to heat up this summer - and nearing the all-time heat record for June.
Finland

First a whale, now a bearded seal spotted in Laval
A video posted to social media shows the seal sunbathing on a floating dock in Laval, close to where the Mille Îles River joins the St. Lawrence River.
Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada

Giant 6ft lion's mane jellyfish spotted Colwyn Bay Beach in Wales
Dom Faux, 42, and daughter Eryn were enjoying a walk on Colwyn Bay Beach, north Wales when they came across a huge lion's mane jellyfish measuring six feet across.
Colwyn Bay, Wales, United Kingdom
Mail Online

Hospital workers in PPE suffering in the heat
Hospital staff in protective gear are suffering as central Sweden experiences a heatwave.
Södertälje, Stockholm, Sweden

Mysterious Holes in Leaves
Defoliation of willows, alders, and berry bushes may be related to different insect species depending on the plant.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Washed-up Stellar Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) on Front Beach
Female Stellar sea lion found dead on the beach, partially scavenged by eagles. There was no sign of any bullet holes. In addition, there wasn't any other evidence of what happened to the sea lion.
Barbara Mahoney, Gay Sheffield, Julieanne Renee Berikoff, Melissa Good

Thousands of gallons of heating oil spill in Shungnak
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Shungnak, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Saint Lucians Urged To Protect Themselves Against Saharan Dust
Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health has advised citizens to take measures to protect themselves from the ill effects of Saharan dust.
Castries, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia
St. Lucia Times News

'Godzilla dust cloud' from Sahara blankets Caribbean on its way to US
Air quality sinks to hazardous levels as biggest cloud seen in a generation swamps region after transatlantic journey
The Caribbean Sea

Temperature hits 100 F degrees in Arctic Russian town
Much of Siberia this year has had unseasonably high temperatures, leading to sizable wildfires.
Verkhoyansk, Sakha, Russia

Strange waves cause concern in Shishmaref
Denise Fernandez has lived on the island her entire life and says she's never seen waves like she did on Monday.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
KTVA

Seaweed invasion hurting fishermen's livelihoods
Seaweed native to the northwest Pacific is invading the rich marine waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and the brown algae is clogging up fishermen's nets and endangering their way of life.
Strait of Gibraltar
Al Jazeera

More Sahara Dust in the air today
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) is advising that the heaviest concentrations of Saharan Dust should begin to impact the islands from today, Sunday 21st June 2020.
Trinidad and Tobago
CNC3 TV

Abnormal heat goes to the north of the Asian part of Russia
Abnormally warm weather will be established in the north of the Asian part of the country: in Yakutia, Chukotka and Krasnoyarsk region. In these regions, the temperature will reach 30 degrees Celsius.

Arctic Russian town records highest ever temperature at 38 C
The temperature in Verkhoyansk hit 38 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to Pogoda i Klimat, a website that compiles Russian meteorological data.

Orangeville area trees swarming with invasive caterpillars
If you hear the pitter-patter of what sounds like light rainfall but can't feel a drop of water, you probably already know that you have a caterpillar problem.
58228527
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Orangeville.com

Permafrost melting is causing above and below ground tanks to shift
Thawing is impacting both above ground and underground fuel storage. They have started on a plan to empty the fuel tank and relocate it or fix the foundation.
Tetlin, Alaska, United States
Joy Britt, Vladimir Romanovsky, David Beveridge, Vladimir Romanovsky, Stanley Tayor

Migratory dolphins return to Nepali waters earlier than usual
The early arrival of the dolphins can be attributed to rainfall from cyclone Nisarga that caused rainfall over the Chure range.
Bhajani, Seti, Nepal
Kathmandu Post

Trumpeter swans are newcomers to the nesting scene in Potter Marsh
Between the Seward Highway and Hillside neighborhoods, a pair of swans are raising five just-hatched cygnets. This is the first pair of swans to nest at Potter Marsh in the memory of Anchorage Coastal Refuge managers and local birders.

Increasing catch of spruce bark beetles
"Throughout Viken in the lowlands there is an increasing evidence of spruce bark beetles and that is worrying. What is positive is that in Measure Package No 2 from the Government you receive financial compensation for wind fall logging and forest management" says Lars Kr. Haug, head of forestry at Viken Skog.
Viken county, Norway
Viken Skog

Enormous plume of dust predicted to reach U.S. all the way from the Sahara Desert
The dust should suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, at least temporarily.
Washington Post

"Uncontrolled outbreak" says city in northern Sweden and imposes lockdown
Regional authorities report about 55 new cases since yesterday, with major outbreaks reported from both local retirement homes and among workers at LKAB mining company.
Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden

Authorities urge caution as forest fires break out around Sweden
Several wildfires are raging around the country and the state weather forecaster, SMHI, has issued forest fire warnings for nearly all of Sweden.
Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden

Record-breaking heatwave in Siberia
A prolonged heatwave in Siberia is “undoubtedly alarming”, climate scientists have said. The freak temperatures have been linked to wildfires, a huge oil spill and a plague of tree-eating moths.
Siberia, Russian Federation

N.W.T. government warns Nahanni Butte residents to stay aware amid very high water levels
Spring melt combined with heavy rain over the weekend has driven up water levels near Nahanni Butte, which sits on the banks of the Nahanni River. The community is accessible only by boat or plane in the summer.
Nahanni Butte, Northwest Territories, Canada

Oily substance found near Savoonga remains a mystery
About a month ago, residents of St. Lawrence Island found a patch of oily, white goo on the beach, along with some dead sea birds covered in the substance.
Savoonga, Alaska, United States

Dead Young Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Young gray whale found dead on the beach.
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States
Maio Nishkian, Gay Sheffield, Barbara Mahoney

After infection of more than 2,000 workers, situation comes under control at Belokamenka construction site
Meanwhile, the spreading of the virus appears to have moved to other towns in the region. Among the new local hotspots for the virus is the city of Monchegorsk where 26 new cases were registered on the 16th June.
Murmansk, Murmansk, Russia

Yellow-tinted Water around Nome Identified As Spruce Pollen
The yellow tinting in ocean water has been identified by the Tanana Valley Clinic as spruce pollen, but it remains to be seen why the pollen counts are so high this year.

Unusual Spider is Actually a Mite
Closely resembling a spider, this long legged mite belongs to the family Erythraeoidae and can be found in many different environments across Alaska.
Newhalen, Alaska, United States

Dead Tomcod (Microgadus proximus) on Beach
Dead tomcod were found on the beach following warm temperatures in Norton Sound, repeating a 2019 mortality event in the same area.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Northern anchovy blooms bring more sea life to Burrard Inlet
Northern anchovy are becoming more comment perhaps due to warmer temperatures. A 10-centimetre-long fish represents an anchovy that's about a year old suggesting that the fish are spawned locally in the pelagic zone, or upper, warmer zone of the seawater.
Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada

Most electrified storm in years
A large chunk of Alberta, particularly in the south and central regions, were throttled by severe thunderstorm...
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
rdnewsnow.com

Calgary picks up the pieces after massive storm hits city with heavy hail damage, flooding
Calgarians are picking up the pieces after a massive storm brought tennis ball-sized hail and flooding to the city Saturday night. A number of community residential roads have also been impacted. Cars left abandoned on major roadways will be towed throughout the day.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Orca pod makes rare appearance in Vancouver’s False Creek
It's a rare sight in Vancouver's False Creek, but a pod of orcas was spotted swimming the city's most inner waterway on Wednesday.

Rare white grizzly bear spotted in Alberta’s Banff National Park
The grizzly, spotted in April, has people pulling off Trans-Canada highways to catch a glimpse of unusually coloured animal.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
The Globe and Mail

Manet invasion in the Oslo Fjord
Large menger glass jellyfish in the Oslo fjord cause problems for both beachgoers and shrimp fishermen. The whole trawl was full before it reached the bottom where the shrimp are.
Saltnes, Østfold, Norway

New possible bottlenose dolphin sighting turns heads in Finland
The eyewitness, who first heard the animal splashing by the southeastern coast, said she couldn't believe her eyes.
Lovisa, Uusimaa, Finland

Next ‘stop’ Kara Sea in the Arctic Ocean?
Toxic fuel from 21,000 ton leak reaches pristine lake, bypassing floating booms, as rivers of diesel pollution cover-up is exposed.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Colorado weather: Foothills, Palmer Divide get June snow
High elevation areas in Colorado received June snowfall.
Denver, Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

In Chukotka, two runways flooded
In Chukotka, floods flooded the runways in the villages of Vaegi and Markovo, and in the latter 24 homes.
Марково, Анадырский район, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia

'Unprecedented' Siberian Oil Spill Reaches Arctic Glacial Lake
President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency last Wednesday, several days after 21,000 metric tons of diesel leaked from a collapsed fuel tank outside the city of Norilsk.The pollution now risks running north into the Arctic Ocean.

Major flooding in Finnmark: Red danger warning in several municipalities
The great flood has come to Finnmark. Since Sunday evening, several homes have been evacuated and a primary school in Alta has been closed. On Monday morning, the E6 stretch of Lakselv-Karasjok was also closed.
Finnmark
Ida Louise Rostad Journalist Eirik Sørenmo Påsche Journalist Mariam Eltervåg Cissé Journalist Frida Ravna Rømo Journalist Erik Andreassen Journalist Linda Pedersen Journalist Torgeir Varsi Fotograf

Yes, several days of thunderstorms are unusual
After the thunderstorms that moved through Southcentral Sunday evening, Anchorage broke a new record…the most consecutive days with a thunderstorm: three.
ADN

Wild salmon in Irish rivers displaying symptoms of red skin disease
Salmon affected have a characteristic red-spotted rash on their underbelly and may appear lethargic or moribund. In the past few weeks, suspected cases have also been reported in Denmark, Norway and Scotland.
River Leannan, Co. Donegol, Ireland
The Irish Times

Second Landslide Destroys Road in Northern Norway
Eight houses were taken into the sea by the powerful landslide measuring 650 metres wide.
Alta, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
Life in Norway

Strong winds knock out power in south, heading for Lapland on Sunday
Train service between Hämeenlinna and Toijala was halted by a fallen tree, while some 13,000 households lost power.
Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland

Picking Shellfish Yields Tingling Fingers
Is there something that would cause fingers to tingle or swell after touching the mussels and clams?

Multiple bear sightings in Saanich, near UVic
Residents near the University of Victoria are cautioned to be vigilant as authorities are responding to sightings of a bear in the area.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria Buzz

Pollen Tinting Water around Norton Sound Communities
Ocean water may be tinted yellow from pollen.
Vanessa Tahbone, Anahma Shannon, Toby Anungazuk Jr

Notice more wasps and yellow jackets this year? You’re not alone
A lot of people are complaining about the wasps this year. They are actually very beneficial insects in some ways. These are very beneficial insects. They gather other insects to feed their larvae and thus control aphid populations, take out delphinium defoliators and other leaf rollers.

Continued risk of floods and landslides
There is still a lot of snow melt remaining and continued risk of flooding and landslides in large parts of the country. Now experts are hoping for the least amount of rainfall to avoid the most dramatic situations.
Alta, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Pollen Levels Elevated in Anchorage
Elevated pollen levels in Anchorage and across Alaska raise questions about changes in respiratory health and the importance of having good air quality during the coronavirus pandemic.

Black bears on the move: more heading south
“In the last 36 hours, we’ve received four bear sightings in Saanich,” said Sgt. Damian Kowalewich with Saanich Police. "A lot of our residents are obviously alarmed by this and it’s a higher number of sightings than usual.”
Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Uncommon Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) Sighting
The Seward Peninsula is within the ruby tiger moth range, but sightings are rare.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Russia’s 2020 Wildfires Cover Greece-Sized Area
Wildfires in Russia have burned across a combined area the size of Greece so far in 2020, surpassing official estimates threefold. Experts warn that this year’s blazes could become the most destructive in history.
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Seal Pup Found in Iceland Swam Home to Greenland
A seal pup found in Iceland about five months ago has now returned to its home turf in Greenland. The ringed seal pup was found behaving strangely in Njarðvík harbor.

Yellow Jacket Wasp Nesting on the Beaches in Nome
"We have not seen this on a wide-spread occasion in a number of years. They are nesting in sea weed, and making it troublesome to go to the beach." Jacob Martin

Humpback whales numbers swell in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
The North Pacific Humpback whale population has increased, and sightings are becoming more common.
Clallam Bay, Washington, United States

Large landslides have passed in Alta
One person was evacuated and brought to safety after the landslide at Kråkneset in Alta municipality. A total of eight buildings were swept to the sea in the 650-metre landslide. Due to a high avalanche risk, police have still not entered the area.
Kråkenes, Alta, Norway
Sofie Dege Dimmen, Ida Loise Rostad, Idun Aalbu Rasmussen, Jo Hermstad Tronsen

Increased tick prevalence in Northeastern Saskatchewan
The increase over the past eight years, attributed to climate change, changing host migration patterns, and ticks' adaptability to drier and colder climates, posing significant public health risks.
Pasquia Hills, SK

State of emergency in Norilsk after 20,000 tons of diesel leaks into Arctic river system
The exact reason of the leak is yet to be established, but a statement from Norilsk Nickel company, which operates the site suggests it could have been caused - worryingly - by collapsing permafrost.

Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Anchorage

Yellow Residue in the Ocean is Likely Pollen
Unusually high levels of seasonal pollen create a visible sheen on water.
Stebbins, Alaska, United States

Flood destroyed the bridge that connected Murmansk with the mainland
Last weekend, the only railway bridge connecting the Kola Arctic with the mainland collapsed. The waters of the Kola River moved the support, then two spans collapsed.
Мурманск, Murmansk, Russia

Ticks moving into Northern Saskatchewan
Ticks used to be uncommon in Northern Saskatchewan, but are becoming more abundant as the climate warms.
Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada

Invasive Himalayan Blackberry Out-competing Native Bushes
Himalayan blackberries (*Rubus armeniacus*) are out competing native shrub species and taking over open grasslands.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Dolphins sighted in Kopli Bay in Estonia
Estonian ship pilot Indrek Sulla on Tuesday morning sighted two dolphins who had likely wandered into Kopli Bay from the Atlantic.
Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
The Baltic Course

Fine Yellow Dust is Likely Pollen
Seeing pollen in rainwater is unusual.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Rare bird in historic visit to Sweden
A rare bird that has only been sighted twice before in Europe turned up in western Sweden on Sunday, causing great excitement among ornithologists.
Göteborg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Icelandic Bees on Road to Recovery
The bee population resurgence is thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Sometimes, a terrible thing can also help."
Iceland

Pollen Tornado
Warm temperatures are causing birch buds to burst, sending large amounts of pollen in the air. In Chuathbaluk, there was so much pollen, it was visible as a tornado.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Humpback whale up Saint Lawrence River
“It’s extremely rare. For the Quebec Mammal Emergency Network it’s a first,” said Marie-Ève Muller, a spokesperson for GREMM. “We’ve had minke whales before, belugas but for such large whale like a humpback whale, it’s a first​.”
St. Lawrence River, Sorel, Quebec, Canada

‘Zombie fires’ are erupting in Siberia and Alaska, signaling a severe northern wildfire season may lie ahead
The wildfires can burrow into rich organic material, such as the vast peatlands that ring the Arctic, and smolder under the snowpack throughout the frigid winter.
Alaska, United States

Erosion and High Water in Noatak
High water in the Noatak River causes erosion near the old dump site.

New Ground Rising from First Lake

Young gray whale appears to be stuck in Twentymile River near Portage
Biologists believe the 18- to 20-foot whale may be sick or injured. It’s unclear if it will be able to swim out during high tide.
Portage Creek, Alaska, United States

"Startlingly Large" Jellyfish Washes Up on Maine Beach
A large lion's mane jellyfish was found on the shore on Peaks Island, Maine, over the weekend that measured in at a whopping five feet.
Peaks Island, Maine, United States
NECN

Landslides block NH 37 between Nunga & Rengpang in Manipur - Republic World
Massive landslides triggered by heavy rain blocked the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of the national highway (NH) 37 in Manipur on Wednesday, police said.
Manipur, India
Republic World

Heat wave brings record-breaking temperatures to Sonoma County. Here's how long it will last
At 97 degrees, Tuesday was the hottest day of the year in Santa Rosa, breaking the 1974 record high for May 26.
Santa Rosa, California, United States
Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Rare whale with long, spiky teeth washes up at California beach
A rare pygmy sperm whale washed up at San Onofre State Beach in southern California.
San Diego, California, United States
Fox News

Landslide closes Giles County road, damages family property
Heavy rain has left one Newport family homeless after they experienced a landslide in their backyard.
Newport, Virginia, United States
WBJD

Mink infected two humans with coronavirus: Dutch government
Mink with the coronavirus have infected two people in the Netherlands in what are probably the first such cases of transmission during the epidemic, government and health authorities said on Monday.
Netherlands

Bottlenose dolphins sighted off Finnish coast for first time in nearly 70 years
Ascension Thursday, a Finnish holiday, was unforgettable for Keeri Sjöblom, 13, who lives in Kimitoön, a maritime municipality in southwest Finland.
Southwest Finland

Yukon conservation officers warn against feeding foxes
Officers are dealing with more reports of foxes than in the past. The animals can be a nuisance, denning on people's properties, digging in gardens, making off with pieces of clothing or footwear, and preying on pets.

Novice Bird Watcher Notes Change in Visiting Species
Spring brought a plethora of Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles and Rufus Towhees.
Montrose, Pennsylvania, United States

Low sockeye returns prompt commercial fishing closure on the Copper River
"We’re way, well below what we expect to be at this point,” said Jeremy Botz, a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He says so far the entire commercial fleet has harvested around 6,000 sockeye, which is way below what the department anticipated
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Caught on cam: Tornado touches down on Vancouver Island
A small tornado that touched down on Vancouver Island Thursday afternoon was recorded on one resident’s front door camera.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
ctvnews

Kivalina Floods from Snowmelt
Unusually warm spring temperatures are rapidly melting above average snowpack, leading to flooding.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Millie Hawley, Janet Mitchell, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Ingemar Mathiasson, Richard L Thoman Jr, Chris Dankmeyer

Bald eagle stabbed in heart by loon
It had to be one of the strangest cases of eagle death that Danielle D'Auria has ever seen.
Highland Lake, Bridgton, Maine, United States
UnionLeader.com

Erosion in Huslia
High water in the Koyukuk River is causing erosion near Huslia as warm spring temperatures rapidly melt above-average snowpack.
Huslia, Alaska, United States
Crane Johnson, Richard L Thoman Jr, Jacqualine Schaeffer

Possible Pacific White-sided Dolphin Sighting (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Unusually active marine mammals seen near Unalaska may actually be Pacific white-sided dolphins.
Melissa Good, Julieanne Renee Berikoff, Asia Beder

Chukar (Alectoris chukar) in my backyard in Anchorage
Non-native chukar, used to train bird hunting dogs, spotted in Anchorage.

Wild Animals Roam Russian Cities During Quarantine
With the coronavirus pandemic leaving Russia's cities quiet and deserted, its wild animals have decided to check things out.
Russia

Where is our spring? Locals in Western Siberia say it feels like they skipped a season
Abnormally hot May weather resembles midsummer with air temperatures as high as +35C.
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

More wolves in Gävleborg - pressure increases to allow licensed hunt
The number of wolves in Gävleborg county has gone up and the pressure to introduce licensed hunting is increasing in the region.
Gävle, Gävleborg, Sweden

More wolves in Gavleborg - pressure increases to allow licensed hunt
The number of wolves in Gävleborg county has gone up and the pressure to introduce licensed hunting is increasing in the region.
Gävle, Gävleborg, Sweden

Pasque Flowers Blooming in Tok
In Alaska, pasque flowers are known to bloom in May, but increasingly warm temperatures may create conditions that lead to earlier bloom times.
Tok, Alaska, United States

Ichneumon Wasp Spotted in King Cove
Ichneumon wasp is a new sight to King Cove observer.
King Cove, Alaska

Birch pollen count breaks 'world record' in Fairbanks
After a cold winter and spring, high temperatures around the Interior prompted birch tree buds to burst, sending record-setting levels of pollen into the air.

Humpback whale breaching east of Vancouver spotted by Burnaby seniors
Some residents of a Burnaby retirement home were about to start a meditation class on Wednesday when a humpback whale sighting stole their focus.
Burrard Inlet, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

After 100 highs, Utqiagvik marks record low temperature
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Unusual warmth pours over North Pole, potentially jump-starting melt season for Arctic ice
The relatively warm weather, arriving a month earlier than normal, is projected to stick around for the next 10 days, potentially accelerating sea ice loss.

Roofs ripped off dozens of buildings, including maternity hospital, by stormy wind in Chita
The stormy wind at 30 metres per second rose in Chita in the afternoon on Wednesday 13 May.
Chita, Transbaikal Territory, Russia

Scientists: Potential landslide could generate large tsunami in Prince William Sound
The rapid retreat of Barry Glacier, 28 miles northeast of Whittier, could release millions of tons of rock into Harriman Ford and generate a large tsunami in Prince William Sound, according to Alaska's top geologist.
Barry Arm

Invasive lizard species spotted in Georgia
The South American lizard, which can grow up to 4 feet long, poses a threat to protected native wildlife, including American alligators and gopher tortoises.
Reidsville, Georgia, United States
KMBC

Nunapitchuk Flood Worst In Years
While many communities along the Kuskokwim River escaped major flooding, one small village is still seeing high water.
Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States

Minor flooding reported on Chena, Salcha rivers
According to the Weather Service, the Chena River is at 25 feet around Chena Lakes and 21.4 feet at the Mile 40 Bridge near Two Rivers.

After long, cold winter, Interior summer heat begins with near-record temperatures, flooding
Fairbanks' May 10 temperature was two degrees below the daily record, while snow melt from an above-normal year is flooding Interior rivers.

Beaver numbers have exploded in Northwest Alaska with some striking effects on the environment
The Baldwin Peninsula near Kotzebue has seen a massive increase in beavers over the last two decades, according to new research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Kobuk, Alaska, United States
Wesley Early, Alaska's Energy Desk - Kotzebue

Record-breaking temperatures across Southeast Alaska raise fire risk
Ketchikan became the first city in Alaska to hit 80 degrees this year on Saturday, as three other cities in Southeast Alaska also set temperature records.

From Iceland — Beached Whale In Northwest Iceland Sparks Concern
A sperm whale beached itself in the northwest Iceland region of Skaga, the Northwest Iceland Nature Agency reports.
Skagaströnd, Northwest, Iceland
The Reykjavik Grapevine

Increased Beaver (genus Castor) Activity Resulting in Localized Flooding
Pathway repair and flood mitigation work at odds with Beaver Management Plan, as beaver dams cause localized flooding.

Officials find pregnant Hawaiian monk seal dead on beach
Wildlife officials reported the death of a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal who was found at a beach on Kauai.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
SFGate

Boom Year for Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica)
Above average winter precipitation may have contributed to high winter survival rates among wood frogs, which emerged during warm spring temperatures.
Glennallen, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Joshua Ream, Brandie Radigan

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

Rare blue dragons are washing up on a Texas seashore
Visitors to the Padre Island National Seashore in Texas are discovering blue dragons during their trips, and though it may not be the flying, fire-breathing creatures their name may suggest, it's still 'a rare find,' the park says.
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, USA
CTVNews

Unusual Mother's Day weather: Polar vortex brings record cold temps, snow to the eastern US
Mother's Day will bring Arctic blasts, wintry conditions and records low temperatures for two-thirds of the US.
Vermont, United States
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

First recorded striped dolphin sighting on Haida Gwaii
Animal discovered stranded on Tlell beach, marking first recorded sighting north of Vancouver Island
Crow's Nest, Haisa Gwaii, Canada
Haida Gwaii Observer

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