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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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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

Denali area gets more than a foot of snow as winter storm hampers travel, visibility
Denali receives a foot of snow in mid-winter storm. Interior areas, including Fairbanks, also received high amounts of snow.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Injured skier rescued after Girdwood avalanche sweeps him hundreds of feet down mountain
The slide occurred at a time when forecasters in the region are cautioning backcountry skiers and snowboarders about the potential for warming weather to increase avalanche risk.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Atmospheric river dumping rain on overflowing rivers raises flood alarm
It's coming up to peak flood season in BC with extra thick snowpack melting into rivers. On top of that, an atmospheric river is coming.
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
Daily Hive News

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

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

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
Anchorage Daily News

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

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.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

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

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.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Flooding in Manley Hot Springs recedes, but residents remain displaced and without power
The second-worst flood on record in the Interior Alaska community of Manley Hot Springs began to recede on Sunday, but dozens of residents were displaced and cut off from power. Flooding is also reported in Sleetmute, Red Devil and Georgetown on the Kuskokwim River and Circle on the Yukon River.
Manley Hot Springs, Alaska, United States

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

Anchorage hits 100-inch winter snow total at earliest date on record
A storm that started Sunday and largely tailed off by Monday afternoon had dropped nearly 17 inches on the city by evening to establish the new seasonal snowfall total, according to the National Weather Service. The storm closed schools in Anchorage and Mat-Su on Monday, and contributed to a fatal collision on the Parks Highway.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Grizzly bear spotted close to Kotzebue
While Northwest Arctic residents encounter bears year-round, such sightings are not common in Kotzebue this time of year, Cantine said. Charlie Henry Jr., an Elder from Kotzebue, agreed: “That is so strange — brown bear in the middle part of the coldest months.”
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Houston man injured in moose trampling outside his home
A Houston man was injured by a moose near his home, an unusual event linked to increased moose aggression due to harsh winter conditions.
Houston, Alaska, United States

Musk ox killed in Kotzebue after it posed a threat to residents
Earlier on Monday, Maniilaq Association notified Kotzebue residents about the musk ox in a Facebook post, saying that the animal was “roaming around the Kotzebue area, last sighted near ‘old’ teacher housing on the lagoon.” Health officials asked residents to not approach or agitate the animal and to keep their dogs under control.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Fuel vault at Anchorage medical campus believed to be source of University Lake oil spill
Oil from a nearby fuel container leaked through the water system in the lake most likely due to heavy rains of the past month. Cleanup efforts were ongoing this week. It’s not clear when the park will reopen.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Atmospheric river triggers flood watch for Anchorage and broad swath of Southcentral Alaska
Forecasters say they are measuring near-record moisture in a storm system expected to bring heavy rain and wind to the region, ramping up Friday night and into Saturday.

‘Unseasonably strong’ storm bringing heavy winds, rain to parts of Southcentral Alaska
An unusually strong storm for this time of year was bringing rain and heavy winds to parts of Southcentral Alaska on Sunday.

Over 24 hours, Harry Potter Lake pulls a disappearing act on Alaska’s North Slope
Drained lake basins make up more than half of the Arctic coastal plain, but the complete drainage of a lake is rarely witnessed by people.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Anchorage animal shelter pauses dog adoptions and surrenders due to highly contagious virus
Three young dogs were euthanized this week after testing positive for parvovirus, an Anchorage Animal Care and Control official said.

Slide buries highway, strands residents
Two heavy rainstorms caused flooding and landslides in the upper valley last week, damaging infrastructure and leaving two residents temporarily trapped in their vehicle.
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

DOT to evaluate cracks on Kivalina evacuation road
Kivalina residents report cracks on the sides of the recently built evacuation road which connects the village to the storm refuge site and the school. The team with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities plans to visit the village and assess the damages at the end of August.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

‘Local legend’ Valdez heli-ski guide dies in avalanche in Chugach Mountains
Michael Hamilton, who worked at Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, died Monday in one of numerous avalanches that have been occurring in the Southcentral Alaska backcountry recently. Several recent large wet slab avalanches reported throughout the Chugach are believed to be connected to a buried crust that formed around late October, she said. A warm storm system last week also weakened the snowpack because it added weight and heat.
Valdez, Alaska, United States

Polar bear fatally mauls woman and boy in Northwest Alaska village
A Wales resident shot and killed the bear. With the loss of sea ice and the ocean staying open later in the year, polar bears have been spending more time on land, which increases the chance of human encounters.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Relentless rain floods towns in Northeast, prompting evacuations and rescues
Rescue teams raced into Vermont on Monday after heavy rain drenched parts of the Northeast, washing out roads, forcing evacuations and halting some airline travel. One person was killed in New York as she was trying to leave her home. Officials say the storm has already wrought tens of millions of dollars in damage.
Arlington, Vermont, United States

Winds down but high water just starting as ‘exceptionally strong storm’ batters Northwest Alaska
Forecasters say they are expecting significant coastal erosion from Utqiagvik to Unalakleet from the second severe-weather event to hit the region in three weeks.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

‘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

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

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

Historic Lower Yukon wildfire forces evacuations from St. Mary’s and Pitkas Point
Two villages along the Lower Yukon River have begun evacuating their most vulnerable residents from a tundra fire.The fire late Thursday was burning less than eight miles from St Mary’s and nearby Pitkas Point, and wind continues spreading the flames closer to the villages with a combined population of over 700 people. Yute Commuter Service is sending all its planes to St. Mary’s to evacuate residents, and Grant Aviation is prepared to assist.
Pitkas Point, Alaska, United States

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

Thunderstorms in Southcentral Alaska spark at least 1 structure fire
It’s not often that Southcentral Alaska residents wake to thunder in the middle of the night. But what forecasters are calling an unusual storm moved from the Talkeetna Mountains into the Matanuska Valley and then Anchorage and south to the Kenai Peninsula from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. At least one lightning-caused structure fire was reported.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Large tundra fire burns 12 miles away from St. Mary’s
“It’s been hot, it’s been dry, and it’s been windy. And those winds gusts of 20 miles per hour, it’s kind of funneled through the Andreafsky River drainage,” said Beth Ipsen. Federal entities sent in more firefighters this week, and some residents are thinking about preparing their go-bags.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

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.
Haines, Alaska, United States

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.

Yakutat declares disaster as hazardous winter weather hits Southeast Alaska
With millions of dollars in damage to a new health clinic and imperiled infrastructure, the borough is requesting help from the National Guard. Yakutat has seen up to 6 feet of snow in recent weeks and a rare cold snap that pushed temperatures below zero.
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

Ice storm hits Pacific Northwest as East and South face bitter cold
A power line fell on a car in Portland, killing three people and injuring a baby during an ice storm that turned roads and mountain highways treacherous in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland, Oregon, United States

DOC warning after mass stranding deaths
A pod of about 45 false killer whales and bottlenose dolphins stranded on Sunday afternoon at Taylor’s Bay on Mahia Peninsula.The Department of Conservation is warning water-goers to be cautious near Mahia peninsula as the remains of stranded whales and dolphins may attract sharks.
Bahia Peninsula
Otago Daily Times Online News

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."
Chilkat Valley News

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

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

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

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.
Chilkat Valley News

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.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

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.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

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

More than a dozen homes evacuated due to Willow Creek flooding; Mat-Su officials say bridge could be closed for days
The flooding started when large chunks of ice jammed at Deneki bridge, according to an advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
Willow, 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.

First fall storm of the year damages road in Utqiagvik
The storm brought winds up to 40 mph to communities from Wainwright to Kaktovik, weather officials said. High waves damaged a road in Utqiagvik, affecting around five houses, residents reported.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Landslide threat increasing as powerful storm expected by weekend
DES MOINES, Wash. - Drier weather on Wednesday helped to lessen the landslide threat across Western Washington, but another system will be moving in later in the week, increasing the threat by Friday.
Des Moines, Washington, United States
Q13 FOX News

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

Giant ice craters, ruts and street-squeezing snow berms: Anchorage road conditions are improving but still causing chaos
Auto shops are seeing more business because of damaged tires, and drivers are often inching through a messy maze of bad road conditions. Road crews are making headway but still catching up from unfavorable weather last month.

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

“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

After avalanche scare, Anchorage’s Kincaid Park sand dunes off-limits to Junior Nordic skiers
No one was hurt when a slab avalanche buried one child and partially buried two others.

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.

Stranded Napaimute couple rescued from flooded Kuskokwim River waters
The pair were hoisted from 140 feet above, according to Guard officials. Flooding continues to be a concern in the area.
Napaimute, Alaska, United States

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

In Nicoya Gulf, the deadly red tide lingers
Since early February, the gulf, and beaches and islands surrounding it, have been in the throes of one of the worst blooms of red tide in recent years.
Paquera, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate

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

A landslide left an Anchorage 10-year-old unconscious and trapped in her room. Her parents pulled her from the debris.
“This has been a very trying time,” mother Tanisha Charles said. “You don’t prepare for this. You think of fires, you think of earthquakes, but you never think of a mudslide in the middle of town.”

No one hurt after second Anchorage roof collapses in a week
The incidents happened after another bout of heavy snow, and as municipal building officials mailed out warnings to owners that their buildings could be at risk.

Chignik avalanche leaves community without power for 4 days
The avalanche came after two days of heavy snow followed by two days of heavy rain. The community had to wait several days before linemen could get to Chignik to repair the damage to its power system.
Chignik, Alaska, United States

Cambodia records 2nd death from H5N1 bird flu so far this year
A 50-year-old man in Cambodia has died from H5N1 bird flu, marking the second death from the virus in the country this year. Prior to his death about 50 chickens had died and were shared with neighbors to eat.
Cambodia

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