Solar eclipse to cross Europe and North America with weather uncertainty

A solar eclipse will be observable in western Europe, Canada and parts of the northern United States on Wednesday, though cloud cover and precipitation may limit visibility in certain areas.

The eclipse will occur in the morning over Alaska and northern Canada, early afternoon across the northern United States and eastern Canada, and in the evening over western Europe, including the United Kingdom and Iceland, as well as northwest Africa. A narrow corridor from extreme northern Russia through eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain will experience a total eclipse lasting up to about two minutes, allowing observers to see the sun's corona. Areas inside the broader yellow arcs on NASA's map will see only a partial eclipse.

Meteorologists note that summer typically lacks large, persistent low-pressure systems that bring widespread rain, but showers, thunderstorms or overcast skies could still develop during the event. Because the eclipse is still several days away, precise forecasts for cloud cover are not yet available.

In North America, the best conditions for a partial eclipse are expected in parts of New England, far-northeast Montana (assuming minimal wildfire smoke) and northern Alaska, while cloudier conditions are possible in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northern Plains, eastern Canada, the Canadian Rockies and southern Alaska.

In Europe and northwest Africa, most of western Europe—including Spain, Portugal, France, southern England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Poland, the Baltic states, southern Sweden and southern Finland—is forecast to have clear skies, whereas Iceland, Ireland, Scotland and Norway may see more cloud cover.

Officials remind the public to use certified eclipse glasses or appropriate solar filters to protect their eyes while viewing the event.