The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

Spr - inter? - Winter is still holding on in some parts of the North. Last week Iceland Review reported that four inches of snow had fallen in Reykjavik, only the fourth time so much has been recorded in late April. Here in Anchorage winter has also been … lingering. I found an inch of fresh snow on crust while touring up Powerline Pass last weekend. In the backcountry, the deep snow pack on top of old weak storm layers has proven treacherous, with several people being caught in avalanches in just the past two weeks. In the Interior, participants in the National Weather Service River Watch program are monitoring conditions and hoping for a flood free break up. In Hay River NWT, the river level is about average but starting to rise. Readers will recall the devastating floods of a year ago. Those are some of the reports from the colder corners of the North. Then there is Nunavik, located 1400 km (869 miles) north of Montreal. On April 24th, it was a whopping 16 C (60 degrees F), a new record. You can read in CBC North more on the diminishing seasons in Northeastern Canada. From the Resilience Desk, see the APRN article on e-vehicles in Alaska. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Surprise “Spring Snow” in Reykjavík Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland Jelena Ćirić / Iceland Review / April 27, 2023 Capital area residents in Iceland opened their eyes to 10 cm (3.9 in) of snow outside the window on April 27th. In the last 75 years, there have only been 4 instances of this much snow falling in the Reykjavík area in the second half of April. Read article on Iceland Review
	Snowverloaded: Kenai Peninsula residents deal with extended winter Soldotna, Alaska, United States Sabine Poux, KDLL - Soldotna and Riley Board, KDLL - Soldotna / Alaska Public Media / May 1, 2023 Since the first big winter storms, snow on the western Kenai Peninsula has collapsed roofs, broken gas meters and raised backcountry avalanche risk. “I think we can safely say that this was the most snow in any winter for the northwest Kenai Peninsula since the winter of 2011, 2012,” said Rick Thoman. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	2 people survive late-season Southcentral Alaska avalanches Girdwood, Alaska, United States Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage / Alaska Public Media / April 18, 2023 The slides come near the end of an avalanche season experts say is notable both for its heightened danger and lack of deaths. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	'We will have to adapt': Record high temperatures in Nunavik pose threat to Inuit way of life Nunavut, Canada CBC / April 27, 2023 Kuujjuaq, Quebec experienced record-breaking temperatures this week. Locals say hunting practices and the ability to travel on the land are being significantly reduced by the thaw. Read article on CBC
	Wild reindeer committee wants to remove musk ox from Dovrefjell Snøhetta, Norway Reidar Gregersen / NRK / April 21, 2023 The musk oxen attract a lot of tourists, and generate a lot of traffic into reindeer areas. Read article on NRK
	Positive tests for tick-borne illness in N.S. dogs up sharply, says vet Nova Scotia, Canada CBC / April 14, 2023 The number of dogs testing positive for tick-borne illnesses has nearly doubled this year, says a Nova Scotia veterinarian. Jeff Goodall, the owner and a veterinarian at Sunnyview Animal Care, said the problems go beyond Lyme disease. Anaplasmosis is also a concern. He said dogs have been testing positive for tick-borne illnesses throughout the winter. Read article on CBC
	Pet owners advised to keep dogs and cats away from dead birds New Brunswick, Canada CBC / April 25, 2023 With geese and other wild birds returning to the region every day, New Brunswick dog and cat owners should be aware of the risk of avian influenza, says the registrar of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association. Read article on CBC
	A small but growing group of EV owners in Alaska show electric cars can work in the frigid north Anchorage, Alaska, United States Michael Fanelli, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage / Alaska Public Media / April 18, 2023 Chugach Electric Association estimates there are more than 2,300 EVs (including plug-in hybrids) on the road in Alaska. That’s still a tiny percentage of the total cars, but in Anchorage alone, that number went up by 120% since June 2021. Drivers say modern EVs can handle the winter conditions just fine. Read article on Alaska Public Media

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.

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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.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer