The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

A Walk on the Beach - For the last 30 years, I have been returning each summer to a spruce-encrusted hook of land along Kachemak Bay. For all these years I have enjoyed a daily walk, up one side of McDonald Spit, and returning on the other. On a sunny day you can see across Cook Inlet, and a stunning view of Mt. Redoubt. On the other side, the tranquil waters of Jakolof Bay and reflections of the Kenai Mountains beyond. No matter how many times I take that walk, there is always something exciting and new to discover. I remember family walks in the early 2000’s, dogs and kids with little buckets in hand, full of excitement for what we might find. We would return hours later and spread out the treasures on the picnic table: feathers and driftwood, rocks, bones, and seashells. The seashells were especially amazing. There were butter clams, cockles, and blue mussels, but also hairy tridents and little twirly tulip snails, as well as scallops, oysters, and sand dollars. Today some of those memories line the windowsill in our cabin. But seashells have been gradually declining over the years, perhaps in part from gathering, but mostly I fear on the supply side; changes in the Bay’s chemistry and climate. In May, I walked the entire 3-mile loop and did not see a single shell! There were pieces of old shells, but nothing new along that water line. I posted an observation on LEO Network (attached) and I hope that it will inspire others to share their knowledge on seashells and beaches and intertidal change. May was a dynamic month around the north. Large floods struck communities in Interior Alaska, Yukon Territory, Saskatchewan, and Yakutia. Wildfires were making headlines in Southcentral Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alberta, and in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and in the Yamalo-Nenets region of Russia. There were also several news stories in May about outbreaks of zoonotic disease. See articles about the detection of bird flu in Svalbard marine mammals, and about the rabies outbreak in Marshall, Alaska. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	In the absence of sea shells Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States Mike Brubaker and Kris Holderied / LEO Network / May 26, 2026 Observers report a significant decline in sea shell presence along local coastlines, raising concerns about potential environmental changes affecting marine ecosystems. Read post on the LEO Network
	Dead polar bear and walrus tested positive for virus Raudfjorden, Svalbard, Norway Anna Stjern / Svalbardposten / May 19, 2026 Authorities on Svalbard report that avian influenza virus has been detected in a dead polar bear and a walrus. It is reportedly the first time the virus has been confirmed in a polar bear in Norway and Europe. Read article on Svalbardposten
	21st dead gray whale of spring 2026 washes up at Bay Center Ilwaco, Washington, United States none / Chinook Observer / May 15, 2026 The Chinook Indian Nation notified the Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) and Pacific County Emergency Management Agency Friday morning, May 15, that a deceased gray whale has been discovered in Bay Center — where the tribe is headquartered. The whale was found on Johnson Beach. This is at least the 21st deceased gray whale to wash ashore in Washington state this spring. Read article on Chinook Observer
	Ice jam flooding leads to disaster declaration for 2 Interior Alaska villages Hughes and Chalkyitsik, Alaska, United States Anchorage Daily News / May 7, 2026 Ice-jam flooding during spring breakup damaged homes and displaced residents in Hughes and Chalkyitsik, prompting Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy to declare a state disaster emergency. Flooding also disrupted air access to Hughes and raised concerns about additional ice jams on the Kuskokwim River. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	YKHC distributes vaccines in Marshall after potential rabies exposure Marshall, Alaska, United States KYUK / May 6, 2026 The city of Marshall says multiple families have received precautionary vaccinations after multiple community members handled puppies that had been living alongside a dog that later tested positive for rabies. Read article on KYUK
	Forest fire rages outside Österbybruk – aerial patrol searching for more fires Österbybruk, Uppsala County, Sweden Christoffer Urborn / SVT Nyheter / May 2, 2026 Multiple forest fires broke out along the railway line between Österbybruk and Örbyhus in Uppsala County, Sweden. Fire crews report flames up to about four meters high and have called in aerial resources, including a helicopter, to water-bomb hotspots and search for additional ignitions. Read article on SVT Nyheter
	Heat records set, matched in five B.C. communities across province's Interior Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada CTVNews / May 29, 2026 Five British Columbia communities reached record temperature highs on Thursday as warm weather blanketed much of Western Canada. Read article on CTVNews
	syilx Okanagan Nation declares watershed emergency: ‘We’re in a crisis right now’ West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Indiginews / May 26, 2026 The syilx declaration follows years of worsening drought and shrinking snowpack. Leaders call are calling for shared governance Read article on Indiginews
	Evacuation alert, flood warning issued for Klondike Valley near Dawson City, Yukon Dawson City, Yukon, Canada Paul Tukker / CBC News / May 5, 2026 Yukon officials issued a flood warning for the Klondike River near Dawson City after multiple ice jams at Henderson's Corner caused backwater flooding on some properties. An evacuation alert was also issued for parts of the Klondike Valley, with sandbagging underway and precautionary power shutoffs in some areas. Read article on CBC News
	Brush fire close to homes in Alver – evacuation lifted Hjelmås, Vestland, Norway Ingvild Stuedal Taranger; Kristine Ramberg Aasen / NRK / May 1, 2026 A brush fire in Hjelmås (Alver municipality) in Vestland, Norway prompted the evacuation of 31 homes, but authorities later lifted the evacuation after firefighters gained control. Wind and difficult terrain made suppression challenging and officials warned the fire could flare up again. Read article on NRK

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

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Northern Climate Observer

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

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The Northern
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