The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

Stormy Monday- Last week will be remembered in parts of Northern Europe for a series of extreme storms, including one of the most intense in history. While one storm was raking western and northern Europe, a second was departing North America and building speed as it crossed the Atlantic. The first storm (known as Elsa in Norway), brought hurricane force winds and extreme low pressure. On Monday, February 10th, flights were cancelled across northern Norway because the altimeters would not work properly below 946 millibars (mb). As stated in the attached NRK article, "in modern times we have not experienced having to put the planes on the ground due to low pressure." The second storm, Dennis, an extra tropical cyclone, created near record low pressure south of Iceland, drenched southern England and Wales, and produced pressure of 920 mb! Alaskans will recall the Bering Sea Superstorm in November 2014, which also hit 920 mb. You can read about these unusual storms and related effects from Iceland, Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Finland in this edition. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Heavy snow and thick ice could mean trouble for Aklavik's spring melt, says local Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada Alex Brockman / CBC / February 20, 2020 Spring is still months away in the Northwest Territories, but people are already looking ahead at the spring breakup season. In Aklavik, some see signs that could point to heavy flooding, a lot of snowfall, very high snow piles all over town and thick ice. Read article on CBC
	Kuskokwim River Too Rough For Travelers In Upper Kuskokwim Area Napaimute, Alaska, United States Krysti Shallenberger, Alaska’s Energy Desk / KYUK / February 11, 2020 The river is so rough in the Upper Kuskokwim area that it is impassable to vehicle and snow machine traffic. Big boulders of snow-covered ice are scattered across the river caused by high water and a late freeze up. Read article on KYUK
	Numerous Dead Mottled Sea Stars (Evasterias troschelii) Fort Wrangel, Alaska, United States Kim Wickman and Melissa Miner / LEO Network / January 22, 2020 Roughly 60 dead starfish were scattered on a stretch of beach about 1/4-mile long, showing potential signs of sea star wasting disease. Read post on the LEO Network
	Extreme weather 'Elsa' hit the coast of Norway Måløy, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway Geir Bjarte Hjetland, Ingrid Aarekol, Benedikte Grov, Roy Raasholm Fauske, Olaug Bjørneset, Julianne Bråten Mossing / NRK / February 10, 2020 The extreme weather "Elsa" left its mark along the Norwegian coast on Monday night until Tuesday. In many places the water has gone far above the ordinary flood level and many cellars have been filled with water. Read article on NRK
	Low air pressure paralyzes air traffic in North Norway - this is historic and extreme Bodø, Nordland, Norway Lise Forfang Hagen, Gisle Forland, Kirsti Kringstad, Emil H. Indsetviken / NRK / February 10, 2020 Widerøe has had several flight cancellations this morning. This is because the air pressure in parts of Northern Norway are too low for planes to take off. In modern times, Widerøe has never had to ground planes due to low pressure. Read article on NRK
	Extreme Weather Causes Travel Disruptions, Power Outages, and Property Damage Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland Gréta Sigríður Einarsdóttir / Iceland Review / February 14, 2020 The predicted severe winds hit the country this morning, causing travel disruptions, property damage and disruptions to capital area services. Parts of the south coast are still without power and some without hot water. Read article on Iceland Review
	Difficult grazing conditions for reindeer Ivgobahta, Troms, Norway Ingolf Balto / Troms og Finnmark / February 10, 2020 In Karasjok and Kautokeino, there has been greater snowfall than usual on winter pastures. The difficulty in digging down to pasture is effecting reindeer in large parts of Troms and Finnmark. Read article on Troms og Finnmark
	Storm Dennis: Fire service received over 1,000 calls Crickhowell, Powys, Wales, United Kingdom Michael Jones / South Wales Argus / February 17, 2020 Whole swathes of land throughout South Wales were – and still remain – underwater. And firefighters worked around the clock to ensure those in need were rescued. Read article on South Wales Argus
	Vasaloppet ski race organisers scramble to put extra snow on the course Sälen, Dalarna, Sweden Sveriges Radio / Radio Sweden / February 17, 2020 Sweden's most famous ski race gets underway next week.This weekend's wind and rain has led to puddles on the 90 kilometre-long course, and volunteers are working feverishly before thousands of skiers descend on the course. Read article on Radio Sweden
	Turku's cherry blossoms bloom out of season in mid-winter Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland Yle Uutiset / February 17, 2020 The cherry blossoms along the Aura riverbank are a huge draw for tourists and photo enthusiasts every year around mid-May. The city's head gardener said he was amazed by the sight of the flowers budding this time of year. Read article on Yle Uutiset

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.

Please forward this newsletter or share it on social media. Join the LEO Network to share your own stories of environmental change.

You may subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking here.

Northern Climate Observer

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

Explore Posts

Submit a Post

Directory

About

My LEO

The NorthernClimate Observer

Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer