Earth Changes
Last year the autumn openings of glaciers happened ass usual after the first wave of the pandemic, and there were actually huge early snowfalls up high. However already-open ski resorts in Austria, France and Italy were forced to close from late October due to the second wave of the virus and although Austria re-opened in January, and Swiss and Scandinavian ski centres stayed open throughout, travel bans meant few people made it on to the slopes. Those who skied or boarded in September and October 2020 were therefore among the lucky few.
So far there have been several August snow dustings on glaciers in the Alps, the good news is the snowfall has been getting heavier in recent days.
Pictured top is snowfall at the Zugspitze Glacier, Germany's highest ski area, last weekend. It is hoping to open for its 21-22 season on November 18th after missing last season entirely.

The tornado damaged 50 homes in Huludao city in China's northeastern province of Liaoning, as well as ripping out trees. One person was taken to hospital for treatment following the storm
At least 50 homes were damaged when the terrifying twister collided with buildings in Huludao city, in China's northeastern province of Liaoning, on August 25.
Footage filmed by a resident from inside their flat shows the air column rapidly gaining strength as it spiralled closer, sweeping debris up into the air.
The tornado lasted for about a minute but damaged more than 50 houses, uprooted trees, and knocked over street lights.
One person was injured and was sent to the hospital for treatment.
The water spout was sighted on Monday at Devri dam in Sidhi district, around 500 km from state capital Bhopal.
A column of water from the dam almost appeared to touch the sky in mobile phone videos that have been shared on social media.
According to reports, the water spout formed after a storm around 4 pm and lasted for about 15 minutes before falling back into the dam. It was likened to a "water tornado" by many.
The spectacular sight drew scores of people from local villages.
Resorts burn and fire tornadoes rage in blaze-ravaged California, as entire CITY ordered to evacuate

The Caldor Fire burns at the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort in Eldorado National Forest, California, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021
Residents of South Lake Tahoe, a resort town on the Californian side of the lake straddling the state's border with Nevada, were ordered on Monday to head east, as law enforcement officers went door to door to make sure everyone complied.
The order was given as the Caldor Fire - one of 20 large wildfires currently burning in the Golden State - closed in. Photos from South Lake Tahoe showed smoky air, and pictures from the Sierra-at-Tahoe resort 12 miles (19km) to the south showed firefighters, aided by the resort's snow cannons, desperately trying to hold back the inferno.
Magalluf´s famous Punta Ballena street was hit hard with shops and bars reporting flood damage.
Eyewitnesses said that the rain-water was ankle high in some areas of Magalluf.
There was flooding in other parts of the island also with the fire brigade having to do with hundreds of calls.

Workers wade through floodwater on Sunday after Saturday night downpours submerged the Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Muang district of Samut Prakan.
Mr Veeris said the inundation began at about 2am after a long and heavy downpour. Many roads around the estate were flooded, including Sukhumvit, Srinakarin, Puttharaksa and Theparak.
The estate is located on a large area of about 5,400 rai at Moo 4 in tambon Phraeksa of Muang district.
The entire estate was about 1 metre under water, with numerous cars and motorcycles submerged.
According to media reports, 3 fatalities occurred in Chereponi district on 28 August. Two people died attempting to cross a swollen river in Bunkpurugu Nakpanduri district on 26 August. Three other people died as a result of lightning strikes.
Flooding has also affected parts of neighbouring Northern Region, in particular in the region's capital Tamale where dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed and residents forced to flee.
In Vikarabad, newlyweds Pravalika and Nawaz Reddy were travelling with four others in a car while returning from a post-marriage function, when the new bride, her sister-in-law Shweta and her son, Thrinath Reddy, 8, were washed away. The boy has not yet been found.
After heavy rains, the body of a software engineer was found floating in a drain in Warangal on Sunday night. He has been identified as Vorrom Kranthi Kumar from Shivanagar. A laptop was also recovered.
Fifty to sixty homes were evacuated in West Auckland after flooding struck during the night 30 to 31 August 2021.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said people largely self evacuated and were staying with friends and family. Evacuation centres were also set up. Auckland Emergency Management said any need to evacuate overrides the COVID-19 lockdown rules.
As much as 90 mm of rain fell in 1 hour. However, Mayor Goff said the flooding was largely unexpected. "We knew it was going to rain... but there was no early indication that this was likely to cause the level of flooding it has."
Seven houses were buried in a landslide at Jyotinagar Bamghat in Butwal on Monday.
The flooding and landslip that occurred following incessant rain on Sunday night damaged the physical infrastructures as well as caused human casualties in various places of Duhun rural municipality and Mahakali municipality.
Narsingh Mahar and his wife Kausha Mahar were killed when the landslide buried their house at Baspalika of Duhun rural municipality. The landslide occurred in the night when the couple were asleep, DSP Manohar Prasad Bhatta says.
Similarly, Manuwa Dadal was killed due to the flood at Dulla of Duhun rural municipality-5. The flood in the local Kalagad rivulet which occurred at around 10 pm swept away Dadal's house.










