The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb - I was reminded of this proverb in the waning minutes of 2019. It refers to March, a month known to arrive with the fierceness of winter and to leave with the gentleness of spring. Though it is not March, the words rang true during the remarkable weather event that brought 2019 to an end. On December 30th, the winds began to blow and the temperatures climbed from 28 (-2 C) to 46 (7.7 C) degrees Fahrenheit. In short order, the Chinook winds had taken all of the snow away. Then on New Year's Eve, the winds quieted, temperatures dropped and snowflakes began to fall. By morning, there was a foot of fresh snow and two new records, highest temperature and most snow fall. In this new decade, it is difficult to predict where and when the snow will fall. In this edition, read this and other winter stories from across the North. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Anchorage breaks snow record for New Year’s Day following the warmest Dec. 31 on record Anchorage, Alaska, United States Morgan Krakow / Anchorage Daily News / December 31, 2019 The snowfall came after Anchorage broke the daily record for warmest Dec. 31, with temperatures at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport measuring 46 degrees. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Russia’s warm winter has deprived Moscow of snow, caused plants to bloom and roused bears out of hibernation Moscow, Moscow, Russia Isabelle Khurshudyan / Washington Post / December 24, 2019 Residents are lamenting a December without the constant layer of snow that defines Russian winters, when what little light there is typically reflects off the white covering and brightens the days. Read article on Washington Post
	Holiday cold snap breaks records, may save Northwest Alaska snowmachine races Kotzebue, Alaska, United States Wesley Early / Alaska Public Media / December 28, 2019 It’s a dramatic drop from this winter’s balmy start, but this is a normal weather pattern for this time of year. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	New heat record again - 19 degrees on Sunndalsøra Sunndalsøra, Møre og Romsdal, Norway Silje Steinnes Bjerknes / NRK / January 2, 2020 A new heat record for January. Sunndalsøra in Nordmøre measured 19 plus degrees in the morning. Read article on NRK
	Heavy rain, snow increase threat of mudslides in Western Washington Des Moines, Washington, United States The Columbian / January 3, 2020 All the rain and snow falling in Western Washington bumps up the risk for mudslides and avalanches. Read article on The Columbian
	Ferries cancelled, flood watch issued as storm wallops B.C. South Coast Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada CBC / January 3, 2020 The storm pummeling much of B.C. incapacitated part of the ferry system and coated major highway passes and northern areas of the province in a heap of fresh snow. Read article on CBC
	Unusually Warm in Northern Norway Troms, Norway Meteorologene / Twitter / January 8, 2020 Extremely warm early January weather in northern Norway. Read post on the LEO Network

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