18 February 2026, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Sassnitz: The lighthouse on the tip of the pier on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen is still covered in a thick layer of ice. The pier, which is covered in a thick layer of ice, is closed for safety reasons. With temperatures around zero degrees and some sunshine, the winter weather in northern Germany is showing its friendlier side. Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa (Photo by Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images)