total lack of sun for the city of Stockholm in December

This is a first since 1934. Plunged into the gray for several weeks, the Swedish capital has not recorded a single minute of sunshine in this month of December 2020.

Never seen since the first half of the 20th century

In recent weeks, a good part of the Sweden finds himself plunged into darkness. While this situation is absolutely nothing unusual at this time of year, the fact that the sun has still not been seen in the sky of Stockholm is much less. According to theSwedish Meteorological Institute, the capital of the country has indeed not recorded ” any minute of sun Since the beginning of December, which had not happened for 86 years.

” Sunshine hours are counted when solar radiation exceeds 120 watts per square meter, it is from this power that the shadows of the sun can be discerned », Explains the meteorologist Thomas carlund. ” But in mid-December we were very far away in Stockholm. “

According to Swedish meteorological data, since 1986, the country’s capital has recorded an average of eighteen days without sun during the month of December, but it is extremely rare that these follow one another. Except for the year 1934, in which the entire month had passed without the slightest ray of sunshine.

A natural variation of the weather

This total lack of sunshine is linked to a natural variation in the weather, described as ” rare but not exceptional », Currently involving a wind coming from the south-east which causes a rise in temperatures and a fall in the altitude at which the clouds appear. For Carlund, things are unlikely to change by the end of the month.

Already having to deal with very short days and the pandemic of Covid-19, the inhabitants of the Swedish capital are impatiently awaiting the end of the year celebrations, which promise to bring a little magic and warmth in this December marked by gray. Currently, the day rises around 8:45 a.m. Stockholm, and went to bed only six hours later, around 2:45 p.m.