The UK is preparing for a historic solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, considered the most significant in decades. Over 90% of the sun will be blocked by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, with some areas seeing up to 96% coverage.
The Met Office has released maps showing the best vantage points, with Devon, Cornwall, and western Pembrokeshire expected to see between 94% and 96% obscuration. In contrast, easternmost regions like Norfolk, Yorkshire, and Aberdeenshire will see only 88% to 90% coverage.
Key City Coverage
Birmingham is forecast to see 91.79% coverage at 7.12pm, London 91.41% at 7.13pm, Inverness 90.74% at 7.03pm, Edinburgh 90.71% at 7.06pm, and Newcastle 90.22% at 7.07pm.
The next time the moon covers this much of the sun for Brits will be in 2081, so many are eager to make the most of this occasion.
Cloud Cover Forecast
Weather maps indicate that most of Scotland and Northern Ireland will be under cloud cover, while the Midlands and southern England are predicted to have clear skies. Patches of the north, including Newcastle, Preston, and Sheffield, may have cloud-free spots, but Greater Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool appear blanketed.
From the Midlands downwards, the east, south, and west are almost entirely clear, including London.
Full List of Clear-Sky Counties
England: Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire, East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall.
Wales: Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey.
Northern Ireland: County Londonderry, County Tyrone.
