Asunbreak is a natural phenomenon in whichsunlight obscured over a relatively large area penetrates the obscuring material in a localized space. The typical example is of sunlight shining through a hole incloud cover. A sunbreak piercing clouds normally produces a visible shaft of light reflected byatmospheric dust and or moisture, called asunbeam. Another form of sunbreak occurs when sunlight passes into an area otherwiseshadowed by surrounding large buildings through a gap temporarily aligned with the position of thesun.
The word is considered by some to have origins inPacific Northwest English.[1]
Artists such ascartoonists andfilmmakers often use sunbreak to show protection or relief being brought upon an area of land byGod or a recedingstorm.
[I]n this part of the world...sunshine is more frequently reported as "sunbreaks."
