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Vienna is currently enduring its darkest winter in 30 years, a season marked by persistent fog and a striking lack of sunlight. The city, usually brightened by crisp winter days, has been shrouded in gray skies that weigh heavily on the mood of its residents.
A City Under a Blanket of Fog
The Austrian capital has seen unusually low sunshine hours this season. December brought only 38 hours of sunlight compared to the long-term average of 52. January was closer to normal with 55 hours, but February has so far recorded none—despite an expected nine hours by this point. Meteorologist Kevin Hebenstreit of ORF Wien confirms that this is the gloomiest winter since 1995/96.
Impact on Well-Being
The lack of light is more than a meteorological curiosity; it has real consequences for mental health. Psychiatrist Marc Nairz-Federspiel warns that insufficient daylight can disrupt the body’s sleep-wake rhythm, leaving many feeling constantly tired and prone to seasonal depression. “It’s almost like being in hibernation,” he explains.
Coping Strategies
Residents are turning to various remedies to combat the gloom. Vitamin D supplements are popular, though experts caution they are not a complete solution. Herbal treatments such as St. John’s Wort are also used, but they carry potential side effects. More promising is light therapy: affordable daylight lamps, used for 30 minutes daily, can help restore energy and lift spirits.
Looking Ahead
Despite the oppressive fog, experts encourage people to spend time outdoors, as even diffuse daylight can be beneficial. Forecasts suggest a few hours of sunshine may break through over the weekend, though the gray skies are expected to persist into next week.
Vienna’s struggle with this unusually dark winter highlights how deeply weather can shape daily life. For now, the city waits patiently for the return of the sun—a reminder of how precious light can be when it disappears.
Would you like me to shape this into a more magazine-style feature with vivid anecdotes and resident voices, or keep it in a straightforward news format?
- source: vienna.at/picture: pixabay.com
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