Photo: DPA

Sun kisses Berlin for first time in 16 days

Published: 21 Jan 10 14:52 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100121-24729.html

The sun briefly came out in Berlin for the first time in 16 days on Thursday afternoon, breaking a 46-year record for depressing winter weather in the capital city.

Berliners rejoiced, if only for a brief few minutes, as the enduring clouds parted after more than two weeks of bleak winter weather.

The hesitating sun also emerged for a while in the surrounding state of Brandenburg, German Weather Service meteorologist Gerd Saalfrank told daily Berliner Morgenpost.

“It looks a bit less drearily grey than in previous days,” he said. “Indeed we can expect to see further sun more often in the coming days.”

The last time the sun avoided the Berlin region for this long was for 11 days in March and April of 1964.

While red-nosed residents will certainly be grateful for the sunshine, it will unfortunately be accompanied by frigid temperatures as the insulating blanket of high fog dissipates.

Temperatures are expected to dip as low as -15 degrees Celsius on Thursday evening, with highs crawling to only -7 on Friday, Saalfrank told the paper.

But the sun-starved need not be cheerless as winter wears on – the long run of subzero temperatures mean that winter sports fans may soon safely lace up their ice skates on local ponds, the paper said.

Click here for The Local's weather forecast.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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21:03 January 21, 2010 by derExDeutsche
And the snow in Berlin covering everything in white dress

Making us all look like such creatures tonight

Just the snow in Berlin covering everything in white dress

Making us all look like such creatures tonight

Making us look like creation's lucky bride

Making us look like such beautiful things stood up tonight

-zookeeper
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