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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

2 Dead After Dam Collapses in Northwestern Russia
Two people were killed after a torrent of water poured over a cofferdam in northwestern Russia early Monday and flooded the surrounding area, authorities said.
Надвоицы, Сегежский район, Karelia, Russia
The Moscow Times

A Beautiful Menace: Invasive Orange Hawkweed Spreads Through Southeast Alaska
The invasive orange hawkweed, known for its striking appearance, is rapidly spreading across Southeast Alaska, threatening local ecosystems by outcompeting native plants.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States
KFSK

Crews battle wildfires across the US West and fight to hold containment lines
Wildfires across the western United States and Canada have put millions of people under air quality alerts, as thousands of firefighters battle the flames.
Cohasset, California, United States
AP News

First ever subsistence fishery closure at Port Clarence causes hardship at Teller, Brevig
After experiencing an unprecedented closure of subsistence salmon fishing, the Port Clarence district, including Teller and Brevig Mission, is now open for fishing.
Teller, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Landslide forces closure of section South Klondike Highway north of the U.S. border
A landslide caused by heavy rains has shut down the South Klondike Highway, affecting travelers and requiring officials to coordinate an alternative route for stranded cruise passengers.
Carcross, Yukon, Canada
Juneau Empire

Reports of dying voles in Kotzebue area
These small rodents are a key part of the Northwest Arctic ecosystem.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Joanna Barton, Sarah Yoder, Susan Georgette, Kimberlee Beckmen, Gay Sheffield, Carmen Daggett, Susan Tessier, Kimberlee Beckmen

Jasper damage map released as park’s largest wildfire in 100 years rages
Residents and businesses of the townsite inside Jasper National Park found out Saturday for certain whether or not they have anything to return to.
Jasper Park Lodge, Alberta, Canada
Global News

Svalbard had warmest June on record
Longyearbyen airport had an average temperature of 6.1°C, which is 2.5°C above normal. Global air and sea surface temperatures were also at record levels.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
The Independent Barents Observer

Most of the red salmon were carrying worms
From the images shared, these appear to be *Philemona*, a freshwater parasite. *Philomena* is a food quality concern but is *Not* considered a human health concern. With proper preparation, the salmon is safe to eat.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Cindy Lawrence, Lars Flora, Mike Brook, Sarah Yoder, Jayde Ferguson

Arctic air brings historically cold July temperatures to Bethel
Bethel, Alaska, experienced historically low July temperatures with highs in the 40s, a rare event not seen since 1971, due to an unusual cold air outbreak from the Arctic.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

'Strange' bald eagle attacks at Kodiak harbor cause multiple injuries
Unusual aggressive bald eagle behavior, not linked to nest protection, leads to multiple injuries at Kodiak harbor, possibly due to eagles being fed by people.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Snake-like procession of insect larvae spotted again in Interior Alaska
A rare phenomenon of gnat larvae forming snake-like processions has been observed again in Interior Alaska, raising questions about their behavior and species classification.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Downtown Juneau apartment building evacuated following landslide
A landslide in Juneau, Alaska, prompted the evacuation of an apartment building, with no injuries reported but further slides expected due to heavy rain.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Extremely rare beaked whale washes ashore in Otago
An extremely rare Spade-toothed Beaked Whale *Mesoplodon traversii* washed ashore in Otago, providing the first chance to dissect and study such a specimen, with DNA analysis underway to confirm its species.
Wellington, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Residents in parts of Yellowknife say tap water smells, tastes swampy
The city says the water is tested and safe to consume. The city is switching water source back to the Yellowknife River as a primary source, as a result of warm weather consumption, several known leaks, and perhaps other still unknown failures.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Four killed as heavy rains pound South Korea
Weather agency says the severity of the precipitation is only seen ‘once in about 200 years’.
Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
Al Jazeera

Extreme rains causing road erosion
Intense rainfall in Cheonan, South Korea, causes significant erosion of a local river park road.
Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea

More people have been infected with Lyme disease
Norway reports a record high of 175 Lyme disease cases from January to June 2024, with uncertain causes attributed to weather conditions and increased tick awareness.
Norway
NRK

Black-legged kittiwakes dying in Kotzebue Sound area
A couple of weeks ago I spotted a small gull on the second bridge behind Kotzebue. The bird wouldn't fly and was walking slowly.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Louisa Castrodale, Andrew Ramey, Racheal Lee, Susan Tessier, Joanna Barton, Gay Sheffield, Kimberlee Beckmen, January Frost, Sarah Yoder

'Unbelievable I survived': Yukon woman attacked by bear speaks out
Following an attack from a grizzly in Haines Junction, Yukon, Vanessa Leegstra spoke to CBC from hospital: "I just knew I couldn't leave my husband and my daughter, I wasn't ready."
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada
CBC

Warmest June on Record
Temperatures in Finland last month were between 1.5 and 3.5 degrees Celsius warmer than normal in most parts of the country.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
News

Aklavik Hunters and Trappers asked to keep an eye out for 'orange slime'
Floating substance possibly iron oxide, but GNWT wants to make sure.
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada
NNSL Media

In Photos: Muscovites Swelter in Record-Breaking Heat
Temperatures in Russia’s capital hit an all-time high of 32 degrees Celsius on Tuesday – Moscow’s hottest day in over 130 years.
The heatwave follows a spate of volatile weather in the city and other parts of Russia. In June, after severe rainfall flooded parts of the city, Moscow was struck by Storm Edgar, which killed two people and injured dozens more. A rare tornado was also sighted in the Moscow region.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
The Moscow Times

Summer Heatwave Sweeps Russia, Breaking Dozens of Temperature Records
Around 40 daily temperature records were broken across Russia and annexed Crimea on Tuesday as hot summer weather gripped the country. The unprecedented temperatures have engulfed Russia from its central regions to the Far East, reaching a maximum of 38.7 degrees Celsius in the village of Mamakan in southeastern Siberia’s Irkutsk region.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
The Moscow Times

Hurricane Beryl is a historic storm. Here's why.
Hurricane Ivan in 2004 was the last strong hurricane to hit the southeastern Caribbean, causing catastrophic damage in Grenada as a Category 3 storm. Hurricane Beryl lashed the southeastern Caribbean as a Category 4 storm — an unprecedented strength this early in the Atlantic season. Beryl amassed its strength from record-warm waters that are hotter now than they would be at the peak of hurricane season in September, he said.
Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados
CBS News

Denali National Park bars visitors as wildfire burns near entrance
Denali National Park has closed to visitors due to the rapidly spreading Riley Fire near its entrance, prompting evacuations and a significant firefighting response.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

Crow exibiting unusual behavior
The crow was on the beach hiding near a driftwood stump and was unable to fly and struggled to walk. These are signs associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) also commonly referred to as "bird flu". See video.
Whittier, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim, Stephen Payton, Sarah Coburn, Margo Werner, Christy McDonald, Andrew Ramey, January Frost, Sarah Yoder, Andrew Ramey

Anchorage's popular Ship Creek to close to sport fishing for 2 weeks
Ship Creek in Anchorage will be closed to sport fishing for two weeks to support salmon stock sustainability at a local hatchery.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Wildfire near Elliot Highway prompts 'Go' evacuation order
A fast-moving wildfire near Elliot Highway in Fairbanks, Alaska, has led to a Level 3 evacuation order for residents, with the fire rapidly growing to over a thousand acres.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Unusual Bubble (Capsule) in Fish Eggs
These eggs from a trout caught in the Fish River, had unusual milky translucent capsules in it.
White Mountain, Alaska, United States
Jacqualine Schaeffer, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

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