News
Aberdeen emerges from 21-day stretch of cloudy weather
Records dating back to 1957 indicate that the previous sunshine sighting occurred on 21 January, marking the most prolonged stretch without sunlight on record.
After a prolonged period of cloudy weather, Aberdeen has finally experienced its first sunshine in 21 days, marking a significant change in the city's weather pattern.
The last recorded instance of sunshine in the city was on January 21, resulting in the longest period without sun since the Met Office began keeping records in 1957, spanning three weeks.
On Thursday afternoon, residents of Aberdeen caught a glimpse of the sun, bringing an end to the prolonged period of cloudy weather that had been prevalent in the area.
According to the Met Office, 30 minutes of sunshine was officially recorded in the Dyce area between 15:00 and 16:00, confirming the return of sunny conditions to the region.
However, a yellow warning has been issued for snow and ice across Scotland, effective overnight, indicating that the region is not yet out of the winter weather cycle.
Kate Finlay, a 21-year-old resident, expressed her delight at seeing the sunshine return to Aberdeen, highlighting the positive impact it has on her daily life.
"When I stepped out of my flat, the first thing I did was inform my friends about the sunshine, as it was a notable change from the previous days," Finlay said, describing her initial reaction to the improved weather.
Finlay recounted her experience, saying, "I opened my curtains and felt that it was brighter than usual, and upon going outside, I was surprised to see a blue sky, which was a pleasant surprise."
The prolonged period of rainy weather had made it challenging for Finlay to venture out, but the return of sunshine has brought a sense of relief and improved her overall mood.
Finlay, a student at the University of Aberdeen, emphasized that the sunshine has brought an end to the miserable weather, expressing her happiness at its return.
The beginning of 2026 saw heavy snowfall in the north-east of Scotland, which was followed by persistent rainfall, resulting in a prolonged period of inclement weather.
Since the snow subsided, the region has experienced almost continuous rainfall, leading to significant disruptions in various aspects of life.
The town of Aboyne in Aberdeenshire received over 277mm of rainfall in January, which is approximately four times the average monthly rainfall, highlighting the unusual nature of the weather pattern.
The inclement weather has had far-reaching consequences, affecting football matches, North Sea oil workers, farmers, and even road maintenance activities such as pothole repairs.
Experts have attributed the unusual weather pattern to a "blocked" atmospheric condition, which has limited the movement of the jet stream and prevented the establishment of more settled and dry weather.
This weather pattern has resulted in a prolonged period of rainfall, with scientists suggesting that climate change may contribute to more frequent and intense rainfall events in the future.
According to climate experts, the warming trend may lead to an increase in winter rainfall, with the Met Office predicting a potential rise of up to 16% in Aberdeen and 13% in Aberdeenshire compared to the levels recorded in the 1980s and 1990s.
Lead weather presenter Helen Willetts noted that the UK has experienced a prolonged period of wet and grey weather, but the recent sunshine in Aberdeen marks a significant turning point.
Willetts stated, "Aberdeen officially recorded 30 minutes of sunshine on Thursday, bringing an end to its prolonged sunless spell, and surrounding areas may have also experienced some sunshine."
"However, it is expected that Friday will mark the beginning of a more significant shift in the weather pattern, with the return of sunshine to the region," Willetts added.
BBC Scotland weather presenter Judith Ralston explained that the change in weather type will lead to the breakdown of the persistent cloud and rain pattern, resulting in drier and brighter conditions.
Ralston noted that the northerly air mass will bring sunshine and wintry showers to the region on Friday and Saturday, marking a significant improvement in the weather.
The anticipated change in weather is expected to bring an end to the bitingly cold winds and rain, replacing them with more pleasant conditions, according to Ralston.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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