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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

Moose with lesions on hind leg
The hind of the moose was also covered with flies.
Willow, Alaska, United States
Sarah Yoder, Kimberlee Beckmen, Mike Brubaker

Lake Mjøsa overflows with round bales
The water has gone over the dam. Skjeggestad Kleven guesses that the water is 40-50 cm higher than during the flood in 1995.Gudbrandsdalslågen has brought large "tractor eggs" (hay bales) out into Lake Mjøsa. Now farmers are being criticised on social media for not securing adequately.
Ringebu, Innlandet, Norway
NRK

Strange orange deposit on beach and waters of Kotzebue Sound
Out commercial fishing on the water in the inter Kotzebue Sound the weather was calm and there were miles and miles of a strange floating orange layer on the surface.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Dean Stockwell, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Dean Stockwell, Derek Sikes, Gay Sheffield, Sarah Yoder

July was Utqiaġvik’s warmest month in the past century
The average temperature in July was 48.4 degrees — 6.7 degrees above normal, with 11 hot days in a row. Such extreme warmth can accelerate the greening and permafrost thaw on the North Slope.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

The evacuees in Hønefoss must be prepared to be away from their homes for several days
Storelva in Hønefoss continues to rise. The municipality is now evacuating several new residents for fear that homes will be taken by the water.
Braskereidfoss, Hedmark, Norway
NRK

Norway: Mobile home washes away after severe flooding from Storm Hans
A mobile home washed away in severe flooding after Storm Hans hit Hemsedal, Norway, on Tuesday, 8 August. The extreme weather has battered parts of Scandinavia and the Baltics for several days. Rivers have overflown, roads have been damaged and people have been injured by falling branches.
Hemsedal, Buskerud, Norway
The Independent

Rare thunder and lightning over Mosfellsbær
Stormy conditions in the southwestern and western parts of the country saw residents experiencing thunder and lightning yesterday. Eysteinn Örn Stefánsson captured a video of lightning that struck Mosfellsbær, which can be seen in the player above.
Mosfellsbær, Capital Region, Iceland
RÚV

More than 271 structures impacted by Lahaina fire
More than 271 structures have been impacted by the Lahaina fire, the U.S. Civil Air Patrol and Maui Fire Department reported after flyovers of Lahaina town on Wednesday..
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States
mauinews.com

Storm Hans causes power cuts in Finland
Southern parts of the country can expect showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday, with more severe storms possibly hitting central areas by evening.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
News

Wildfire smoke, climate change affecting N.W.T. berry pickers and their harvest
Cathy Pope, a berry picker from Norman Wells, N.W.T., said there has been an abundance of blueberries this year, and that she's "never seen it like this." Despite the ample availability of fruit, thick wildfire smoke — some of the worst in the country, at times — has made it hard for Pope to go out and pick.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Sweden braces for heavy rain and flooding from Storm Hans
Storm 'Hans' is sweeping into Sweden, causing problems for roads, flights, ferries, railways, and traffic on the Öresund bridge.The Swedish Weather Service, ...
Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Record flooding from Suicide Basin destroys one home, swamps others and cuts off access
A home collapses into the Mendenhall River on Saturday due to a record amount of flooding from Suicide Basin since an annual cycle of water release began there in 2011. Officials said nobody was injured when the house collapsed, but other structures along the riverbank are at risk. (Screenshot from video by Sam Nolan).
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Baby walrus, rescued from Arctic tundra, receives 24-hour cuddle care at Alaska SeaLife Center
A wayward walrus calf, just one month old, was rescued from the North Slope. Workers on the North Slope spotted the baby walrus on tundra, about four miles inland from the Beaufort Sea.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Harmful algae bloom detected in Bering Strait waters
High concentrations of harmful algae called Alexandrium catenella have been detected in the Bering Strait waters near St. Lawrence Island, Wales, and Little Diomede, posing a potential danger to human health and urging caution when consuming certain seafood.
Bering Straits, Alaska
The Nome Nugget

A temporary ban on salmon fishing was introduced in Chukotka
A temporary ban on all salmon fishing has been implemented in Chukotka, Russia due to declining salmon populations.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Prochukotku.ru

Black bear in tree for 24 hours
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Smaller salmon and slower returns
The sockeye salmon are coming back smaller for the Newhalen River and Iliamna Lake, plus not a thick as they once did when I was younger.
Newhalen, Alaska, United States

Insect on cloud berries
Is the abundance of insects unusual? Updates from around the state with picking and weather impacts.
Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States

Salmonberries are a month late
"We usually pick salmon berries in early July."
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States
Mike Brubaker, Katie Spellman, Stephen Payton

Dead beluga whales and walruses washed ashore in the estuary near the capital of Chukotka
Dead beluga whales and walruses have been found washed ashore in the estuary near the capital of Chukotka, with the cause of death currently unknown.
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Anchorage police kill black bear that was charging people in neighborhoods near Baxter and Northern Lights
Anchorage police killed a black bear that was charging people in neighborhoods near Northern Lights Boulevard and Baxter Road on Sunday night.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

What's making the water yellow in Kasitsna Bay?
Discoloration of water in bay. Is this an algal bloom?
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States
Mike Brubaker, Kris Holderied, Stephen Payton

There was a blue-green algae bloom in Yellowknife Bay. Here's what you should know about it
A blue-green algae bloom in Yellowknife Bay sparked worry for people's dogs. Here's what an aquatic quality scientist and a veterinarian have to say about it.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Warm temps and wind fan Interior fires
An evacuation alert was also issued Friday for residents of the Lower Salcha River, from river mile 3 to 40. The Middle Salcha remains under a SET status, from river
Salcha, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

In the absence of fireweed
A 24-hour, 245 mile survey of fireweed plants from Anchorage to Seldovia revealed an almost complete absence of flowering.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Calm but overwhelmed: wildfire evacuees from Behchokǫ̀ start to arrive in Yellowknife
Behchokǫ̀, a community of about 2,000 people northwest of Yellowknife, issued an evacuation order shortly before 6 p.m Monday evening. A wildfire is burning about 25 kilometres to the east of the Behchokǫ̀, and 45 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife.
Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

In hot water: South Florida ocean tops 100 degrees; could be world record
A buoy in Manatee Bay, about 40 miles south of Miami, posted a temperature of 101.1 degrees at 6 p.m. after a morning low of 91 degrees. Temperatures remained at or above 100 from 5 p.m. through late evening. For comparison, the “ideal” temperature of a hot tub is 100 to 102 degrees, according to jacuzzi.com.
Miami, Florida, United States
Washington Post

Haze from Canada wildfires coming to Southcentral Alaska this week
The smoke is from numerous wildfires burning in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Scientists say Tongass trees could bounce back from budworm infestation
Scientists with the U.S. Forest Service believe that the blackheaded budworm, whose numbers surged over the past three years, is now in decline.
Chichigof Islands
Alaska Public Media

Woman found dead in apparent bear encounter outside of Yellowstone National Park
The woman's body was found about eight miles outside the town of West Yellowstone, Mont., a gateway community that borders Yellowstone National Park.
West Yellowstone, Montana, United States
Boise State Public Radio

Phoenix summer heat keeps breaking records
Phoenix's blistering July heat wave has broken multiple records. There's little relief in sight, according to the National Weather Service. Every single day so far in the month of July, the high temperature — as recorded by the National Weather Service at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport — has been 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Phoenix New Times

What is the reason for large numbers of dead bees spotted in Inverness?
The spectacle of "hundreds" of dying or dead bees along the River Ness earlier this week led to a discussion on social media.
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Humpback whale nearly knocks paddler off board near Whittier
Stand up paddle boarder near miss with humpback whale in Prince William Sound.
Whittier, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Bluefin tuna washes up far from home in Salish Sea
Joe Gaydos found a bluefin tuna washed up on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington state. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the fish usually roam the more temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Crescent Beach, Orcas Island, Washington, USA

Finland's bilberry harvests mediocre at best, nature institute forecasts
Frost exposure and poor pollination are behind expectations for a less than ideal season, according to research institute Luke. Bilberry patches at particular risk are in the regions of South Karelia, Kainuu, Keminmaa, Ylitornio, as well as certain areas of Central and South Ostrobothnia.
Lappeenranta, South Karelia, Finland
News

Catalonia Hits Record High Temperatures Amidst Heat Wave
Historical heat records shattered as temperatures soar above 45°C, prompting government precautions.
Darnius, Catalonia, Spain
Zenger News

79 wildfires burning in northern Quebec, 11 out of control
Wildfires are still burning in Quebec's northern zone, with 11 fires still considered out of control early Tuesday morning. However, the provincial forest fire prevention agency, SOPFEU, said rain since Sunday and rising humidity have helped stabilize the flames for the time being.
Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada
Montreal

Influenza found in pigs at Oakland County Fair
Officials say several pigs at the Oakland County Fair tested positive for the Influenza A virus, with is the causative agent of the swine flu.
Detroit, Michigan, United States

Boy, 9, died of asthma attack made worse by wildfire smoke, parents say
Grieving parents who lost their nine-year-old boy last week say their son died after a severe asthma attack made worse by wildfire smoke engulfing parts of British Columbia.
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Signs of a wet summer are numerous around Cheney Lake
The rain in July has been persistent and in some cases intense. At Cheney Lake there is plenty of evidence about the wet summer.

Mountain biker dies after helping save dehydrated hikers in Jacumba
A mountain biker died Saturday after trying to help dehydrated hikers in an eastern San Diego valley, officials said.
Jacumba, California, United States
NBC 7 San Diego

Tsunami warning canceled following strong earthquake off Alaska Peninsula
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake initially triggered sirens and evacuations in communities including Sand Point and Kodiak.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

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