Eclipse Viewing Will Be a Race Against the Clouds Wednesday
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A total solar eclipse will cross parts of Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and Spain on Wednesday, but we won't be completely left out here in Newfoundland and Labrador. While we won't experience totality, the moon will cover roughly 40 to 55% of the sun across the province during the afternoon.
The bigger question around here isn't whether the eclipse is happening. It's whether the clouds will cooperate long enough for us to see it.
Unfortunately, the answer isn't straightforward.
Some Areas Have a Better Chance Than Others
The best viewing conditions currently look to be across western Labrador and parts of southern Newfoundland, where there should be enough breaks in the cloud to give eclipse watchers a decent shot.
For much of the rest of the province, conditions are more questionable. Southeastern Labrador looks particularly poor as rain and cloud remain wrapped around an area of low pressure moving through the region.
The St. John's metro area falls somewhere in the middle.
Computer guidance is fairly pessimistic about cloud cover over the Avalon Wednesday afternoon, but I'm a little more optimistic than the models. Winds will be from the southwest, and that's a direction that can sometimes produce more breaks in the cloud around St. John's and the northeast Avalon than the models anticipate.
There's another problem, though: showers will be approaching.
The eclipse peaks during the mid-afternoon, and there are indications that showers could begin moving toward the Avalon around 4 p.m. If we can get some breaks in the cloud before those showers arrive, we may get a window to see it. If the rain arrives an hour or two earlier, our chances drop considerably.
In other words, we may literally be racing the clock.
Wednesday Will Be Warm, Humid and Unsettled
The eclipse isn't the only weather story Wednesday.
An area of low pressure moving into the Gulf of St. Lawrence tonight will bring rain, potentially heavy at times, to the west coast of Newfoundland, southeastern Labrador and the Lower North Shore of Quebec. A few thunderstorms are also possible.
As the low moves northeast Wednesday, rain will continue across southeastern Labrador while Newfoundland gets into a warmer and more humid southerly flow. Temperatures will climb into the 20s in many areas, and Humidex values will make it feel warmer.
We'll also have to watch for afternoon showers and thunderstorms developing over the interior of Newfoundland. Those should generally drift toward the northeast through the afternoon and evening.
Much Better Weather Follows
Once we get through Wednesday, the weather pattern finally begins to improve.
Thursday and Friday are both looking quite nice across much of Newfoundland, with temperatures generally in the 20s and considerably more sunshine. There will still be a chance of an isolated afternoon shower or thunderstorm, particularly across the interior, but neither day looks like a washout.
The weekend is holding up reasonably well too. Temperatures won't be exceptionally hot, but much of Newfoundland should see decent weather with highs generally in the upper teens and lower 20s.
Labrador remains a little more unsettled, especially Thursday, before conditions gradually improve heading toward Friday and the weekend.
One important reminder for Wednesday: do not look directly at the sun without proper eclipse viewing equipment. Even with roughly half of the sun covered by the moon, it is not safe to look at with the naked eye or ordinary sunglasses.
Now we just need the clouds to cooperate
The next forecast update will be tomorrow morning! Check back for updates!
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