A weather front moving into the northwest later today could block the solar eclipse view for millions in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while southern parts of England and Wales are set for an "excellent" view, the Met Office has said.
The eclipse should be visible across the UK, but cloud cover may obstruct it in some regions. Rain is expected in Northern Ireland and Scotland as the front pushes in.
Regional forecast
The Met Office map for 6pm to 8pm, when the eclipse is due to take place, shows southern England and Wales with an "excellent" view. North Wales, northern England and southern Scotland can expect "good" conditions, while visibility will likely be "low to moderate" in Northern Ireland and the rest of Scotland.
In Scotland, eastern areas like Aberdeenshire, Angus and Moray are most likely to have clear skies, with possible breaks in cloud cover in the central belt and southern Scotland, according to the updated forecast.
Counties with best view
In total, 23 counties are in the "excellent" region, all in England or Wales: Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
The BBC Weather forecast for Wednesday says there should be "very little cloud" for most, but identifies northern areas as where showers and "patchy cloud" could come. It states: "Dry and sunny for most with very little cloud around. Patchy cloud and a few showers for northern England and Northern Ireland. Heavier spells of rain for north-western Scotland, possibly thundery."
Safety warnings
This evening's eclipse will be the first near-total eclipse in the UK since 1999, and the last until 2081. Safety-approved solar eclipse glasses have been selling out online, and consumers have been warned against using "knock-off" glasses. Eye doctors urge people to avoid looking directly at the Sun, as even brief exposure can cause lasting vision damage.
Only special solar eclipse glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified should be used, experts say. Glasses without the safety standard, or ordinary sunglasses, should never be used as they reduce glare, making it feel more comfortable to look at the Sun for longer, but still allow harmful solar radiation to reach the retina.
