US: Christmas Snowstorm Dumps Feet of Snow in Sierra, Western Nevada

A strong Christmas snowstorm dumped up to five feet of snow across the Sierra and western Nevada from December 24–26, causing white-out mountain conditions and rare winter scenes in lower elevations.

US: Heavy Rain from Winter Storm Triggers Flooding in Willits, California

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Willits on Sunday morning, December 21, amid rising water levels. The area is forecast to receive between 1 and 3 inches of rain through Monday, December 22, with higher totals possible at higher elevations. The National Weather Service warns motorists never to attempt to cross flooded roadways. From Arcata to Shelter Cove, heavy rain inundated valleys and caused creeks to overflow their banks, and turned roads into rivers of fast-moving muddy water.

First Snowfall of The Season Over the Pyrenees

First Snowfall of The Season Over the Pyrenees

Handout photo dated on November 9, 2025 shows The Pyrenees are an important ecological corridor stretching between France and Spain, connecting Atlantic and Mediterranean ecosystems across a rugged mountain landscape. The mountain range supports high-altitude grasslands, ancient forests, and glacial valleys, providing habitat for endemic species. The arrival of snow marks the beginning of the alpine winter and plays a key role in regional water storage. This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites on 9 November 2025, shows fresh snowfall above 1,900 metres, while lower elevations remain in shades of green and brown. This snowfall followed an Atlantic front, which brought up to 12 cm of snow and more than 40 l/m² of rain to parts of Spain. Photo by European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery via ABACAPRESS.COM

Over 100 white-lipped deer spotted in NW China nature reserve

STORY: Over 100 white-lipped deer spotted in NW China nature reserve DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:43 LOCATION: LANZHOU, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of white-lipped deer in Qilian Mountains National Nature Reserve STORYLINE: More than 100 white-lipped deer were recently spotted in Qilian Mountains National Nature Reserve, northwest China's Gansu Province. The white-lipped deer, a unique Chinese species under first-class national protection, lives in the area at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 meters. It primarily inhabits high-altitude grasslands within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas. Notably, it has been classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Qilian Mountains National Nature Reserve in Gansu is rich in wildlife resources, serving as a hub of biological diversity in Northwestern China. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lanzhou, China. (XHTV)

Siberian ibex spotted running on cliff in China's Xinjiang

STORY: Siberian ibex spotted running on cliff in China's Xinjiang DATELINE: June 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:50 LOCATION: HOXUD, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Ibex goats climbing mountains STORYLINE: A herd of Siberian ibex goats was spotted running on steep cliff in Hoxud County, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as the population of this rare species grows continuously. Siberian ibexes live mostly on steep slopes and rocky scree areas. Inhabiting at high elevations between 3,500 and 6,000 meters above sea levels, Siberian ibex usually graze in groups. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hoxud, China. (XHTV)

First pumped storage power station in Xinjiang, China under construction

STORY: First pumped storage power station in Xinjiang, China under construction DATELINE: March 29, 2022 LENGTH: 0:00:55 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the construction site STORYLINE: The first pumped storage power station in Xinjiang, China is under construction. The main structure of the dam of the upper reservoir was completed last weekend. It's 133 meters high and 431 meters long. This marked the completion of the main structure of both dams of the power station. The power plant is expected to start generating electricity in 2024. A pumped storage hydropower station configurates two water reservoirs at different elevations, which can generate power as water moves down from one to the other. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China. (XHTV)

ITALY-SNOWFALL

ITALY-SNOWFALL

An aerial view of San Bernardino Basilica in L'Aquila, Italy, after a snowfall on January 10, 2022. Central Italy is crossed by cold and bad weather with snow even at low elevations. (Photo by Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto) (Credit:Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto/Kyodo News Images)