Looking up, the writer sees the gathering fog obscure the sun until it disappears.

Then a shadow of doubt passes over his face, as though a small cloud had briefly obscured the sun.

However, the amount of sunshine was well below average (12 per cent) as thick cloud obscured the sun and the heavy rains cooled temperatures.

Volcanic winters are caused by volcanic ash and droplets of sulfuric acid obscuring the sun's light, usually after a volcanic eruption.

It then seemed to increase in size, rose from the earth and ascended into the sky, where it obscured the sun with its brilliance.