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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

‘Receding before our eyes:’ Vancouver Island glaciers likely to be all gone by mid-century
Retired logger Fred Fern has been taking photos of the Comox Glacier every year since 2013, and the receding ice mass is easy to see in the images. Using Google Earth, Fern has calculated the Comox Glacier lost 15 vertical feet after this summer’s heat — and as much as 120 vertical feet since his first photo in 2013.
vancouversun

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

Alberta confirms 5 cases of avian flu spreading to mammals
"We had an unusually large number of calls about skunks that were acting strange or being found dead and it was all within the area where we had confirmed that the avian influenza virus was present in the snow geese," Dr. Margo Pybus, a provincial wildlife disease specialist with Fish and Wildlife Alberta Environment and Parks, said. "We believe that the skunks are feeding on the dead geese and they are getting enough virus that it’s actually affecting the skunks."
Innisfail, Alberta, Canada
Global News

Fire crews working to contain out-of-control wildfire in Wood Buffalo National Park
An out-of-control wildfire that destroyed 20 homes in a northern Alberta Indigenous community has burned its way into Wood Buffalo National Park.
CBC

Temperatures in the south touching 30 degrees later this week
The temperatures are rising further in Sweden this week, with large parts of central Sweden touching 30 degrees from Wednesday onwards. Many municipalities and regions are now banning people from using solid fuel such as charcoal or wood at public grilling areas outside built up areas.
Sweden

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

Kenya flooding death toll climbs to 70 since March
More than 120,000 people have been displaced, Kenyan government says, with 22 others injured and eight reported missing.
Nairobi, Kenya
Al Jazeera

1st Asian giant hornet found in Snohomish County
Entomologists believe the invasive insect is an “old hornet from a previous season that wasn’t discovered until now” because it was “very dried out."
Marysville, Washington, United States

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

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

Rabid foxes found in Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet
The Government of Nunavut says two foxes in the territory have recently tested positive for rabies — one in Coral Harbour and one in Chesterfield Inlet.
Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

North Slope communities are seeing more polar bears this year
From Point Hope to Kaktovik, North Slope communities saw anywhere from 10 to 15 bears in each village this winter. For the most part, bears are not going into the villages, but in some cases, they come close enough for people to take photos and sometimes, people come too close.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

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

Nine cats killed by bird flu in Poland as global outbreak continues
Nine infected cats were found in Poznań, the tri-city metropolitan area, and Lublin, locations separated by hundreds of kilometers. All tested positvie for HPAI.
Poznań, Powiat Łukowski, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com

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

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

While the search for Utqiagvik whale researcher continues, his friends and family reflect on his role in the community
John Craighead "Craig" George was swept under a logjam last Wednesday on the Chulitna River near Cantwell, Alaska State Troopers said. The dive team responded to the area Friday morning but found that the water was too high to deploy.The rafting party was decending when they encountered an unusual amount of logjams.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

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

Quebec is in a 'high tick year' and the white-tailed deer boom isn't helping
The mild winter and fluctuating spring temperature appears to have led to a tick boom in Quebec, a province where cases of Lyme disease have been steadily climbing for years.
Quebec, Canada

Bird flu continues to spread across the state
Bird Flu cases continue to rise in Alaska and are spreading across the state. Note: in Anchorage this has included two bald eagles and four Canada goose.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

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

Up to a foot of snow could fall on Anchorage Hillside through Friday morning
Snowfall amounts in the Anchorage Bowl could range from 3 inches on the east side to nothing on the west side, the Weather Service said.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Polar bear sightings prompt North Slope officials to encourage precautions among residents
Officials are encouraging the public to be safe, report polar bears in the area and never approach the animals, which can be “dangerous and unpredictable.”
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

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

Cougar spotted crossing Hwy 3 outside Yellowknife
The animal was spotted Thursday about seven or eight kilometres away from the sand pits.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Earthquake swarm signals unrest at volcano in Alaska’s western Aleutian Islands
It’s not clear whether the unrest will lead to an eruption at Tanaga Volcano, which is located on an uninhabited island about 65 miles from Adak.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Havana mansions crumble as residents live in fear
Havana mansions in Cuba are crumbling due to neglect, bad weather, and economic crisis, leaving residents living in fear of collapse and struggling to receive help from authorities. Cuba’s housing crisis is one of the most pressing challenges facing the island, where a humid climate, the passage of hurricanes and other storms, poor maintenance and a low completion rate of new ones are usually among the top complaints of Cubans.
Havana, La Habana, Cuba

Tornado damages houses, causes power outages in Fort St. John
"I've worked forecast in this area for 33 years. It's very rare. I don't remember any community in B.C. having that much damage from a tornado in my career or in the Peace," said meteorologist Doug Lundquist.
Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada

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

Yukon declares state of emergency in Mayo due to wildfire threat
The Yukon government has declared a state of emergency in the Mayo area, as a wildfire continues to threaten the community that was evacuated on Sunday.
Mayo, Yukon, Canada

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

Iceland volcano near Reykjavik erupts for the 7th time in a year
Around 50 homes were evacuated, along with guests at the famous Blue Lagoon resort, according to the national broadcaster.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Elsa Spreading Heavy Rain From the Southeast Into the Mid-Atlantic; Tropical Storm Warnings Extend Into the Northeast
The system became Tropical Storm Elsa on July 1, the earliest forming fifth named Atlantic storm on record in the satellite era (since 1966). The old record was, which developed a year ago on the evening of July 5.
Brigantine, New Jersey, United States
The Weather Channel

Storm Malik and Corrie: Thousands of homes without power after weekend storms
Gusts of up to 85mph were recorded in parts of Scotland as Storm Malik swept across the country.
Saint Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

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

Yellowknife begins evacuation as wildfires approach
Yellowknife residents have been ordered to begin evacuating the city immediately as wildfires approach. The evacuation order says residents should leave "according to risk." People living along Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, and the Kam Lake, Grace Lake and the Engle business district in Yellowknife are considered at highest risk and are urged to leave as soon as possible.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

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