How clouds could affect solar eclipse viewing
Allister is enjoying a nice long weekend but will be back in this space bright and early Tuesday morning.
Excitement is building with the solar eclipse in just nine days.
It will be quite the spectacle in Atlantic Canada as the moon will cover 90 to 99 per cent of the sun across all four Atlantic provinces, except for Labrador. There will also be a path of 100 per cent totality through sections of all four Atlantic provinces.
That includes communities such as Fredericton and Miramichi, N.B., Summerside to Tignish, P.E.I., Meat Cove and Bay St. Lawrence, N.S., and Port aux Basques, Gander, and Bonavista, N.L.
The eclipse maximum will happen from southwest to northeast between 4:30 and 4:40 p.m. ADT in the Maritimes, and between 5:10 and 5:20 p.m. NDT across Newfoundland. Community-specific information can be found online detailing the timing of the entire eclipse.
Of course, the big question remains – what will the weather be like? This is the most crucial factor that will determine whether we can step outside and see the eclipse.
I wrote earlier this month about cloud climatology in April, and if we were to base it solely off that, then we would be left discouraged. Most long-range models are now spitting out early projections of weather in just over a week, but it won’t be until five-toseven-days ahead that the pattern will become more evident.
However, let’s say the worst-case scenario happens and clouds are in the forecast. Does that mean we should write off viewing the eclipse? I wouldn’t, but it will depend on the amount and type of clouds we’re experiencing.
One factor will be the amount of cloud coverage in our skies. While wall-to-wall sunshine would be ideal to avoid clouds obscuring the sun, a mostly or partly sunny sky could still allow us to view the eclipse depending on timing.
Mostly cloudy to overcast conditions would make it much more challenging with greater odds the sun would be obstructed.
We must also consider the cloud types and whether they’re low-level, mid-level, or high-level clouds.
The sun is often able to filter through high-level cirrus clouds, and depending on coverage, can also break through mid-level alto clouds. However, these clouds must be thin enough to not obscure the sun such as cirrostratus or cirrocumulus.
It’s low-level clouds we need to be most concerned with — stratus and cumulus clouds could make viewing more challenging and hide the eclipse if abundant.
It’s worth noting that if clouds dominate there will still be darkness during the eclipse, especially in the path of totality where it could be much more dramatic and faster than a sunset.
If the forecast spells bad news I would also check out conditions elsewhere – especially if you can travel to another location. With our weather’s track record, it could be a case of adapting and changing locations.
Above all, be sure to take proper precautions if viewing the eclipse — including the proper eyewear and filters for cameras and telescopes.
Let’s cross our fingers Mother Nature grants us nice weather.