The Met Office has identified southern Scotland, particularly Dumfries and Galloway, as the region with the clearest skies for Wednesday's solar eclipse, while much of the rest of the country may face cloud cover.
Peak Viewing Times and Coverage
The eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, is the UK's biggest since 1999 and the last of its kind for 54 years. It will begin around 6:08pm and last until 8:06pm, with maximum coverage expected shortly after 7pm for most areas.
Initial forecasts suggested Scotland would see over 90 per cent coverage in some areas, but weather maps indicate cloud could obstruct views across much of the country.
Regional Forecast at Peak Time
Met Office graphics for 7pm show heavy cloud over Glasgow and the Central Belt, with similar conditions in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The far west and north west Highlands, from Ullapool to Durness, are expected to have dense clouds and scattered showers.
In contrast, Dumfries and the Scottish Borders are forecast to have the clearest views. Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the UK's largest forests, has been named the top dark spot for eclipse viewing, with the lowest average cloud cover of 53 per cent on Wednesday.
Aberdeen in the north east also looks clear at peak time with no obstructing clouds.
Expert Advice
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “Skies across southern Scotland should be largely clear and bright at the time of the eclipse. However, northern and western parts of Scotland could experience cloudier conditions. The hourly-feature on the Met Office weather app will provide a good steer for people living in those regions potentially affected by cloud. Those expecting to see the event will need to have uninterrupted views to the western horizon. You can check this over the next two nights by looking to see if you can see the sun from your planned location around 7pm.”
Peak Times and Coverage by Location
The eclipse is expected to peak in Dumfries at around 7:04pm with around 90 per cent coverage, while Aberdeen will see slightly less at 89 per cent, peaking at 7:03pm.
Although the west of Scotland was initially forecast for the best coverage, between 91 and 94 per cent, sky watchers may need to trade a small fraction of coverage for clearer skies in the south and north east.
The Met Office app offers an hourly forecast feature to help people track conditions in the countdown to Wednesday evening.
