Spain’s total solar eclipse on August 12 will occur under mostly clear but extremely hot conditions. Clouds could obstruct the view in parts of northern Spain, the Canary Islands and eastern mountain ranges.
Spain is preparing for its first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula in more than a century, but clouds may complicate viewing in several regions on Wednesday, August 12.
The latest special forecast from AEMET indicates generally stable, very hot and mostly clear weather across much of the country. However, low cloud is expected around the Cantabrian coast, northern Galicia and the northern slopes of the Canary Islands.
Afternoon clouds may also develop over the Pyrenees and mountainous parts of eastern Spain. These areas could experience intermittent rather than continuous obstruction, meaning brief clear periods may still allow people to see the eclipse.
Where will clouds affect the eclipse?
The greatest risk of persistent cloud cover is along the Cantabrian coast and northern Galicia. Low cloud trapped against the terrain could leave some coastal areas mostly cloudy or overcast around sunset.
Uncertainty remains along other parts of the Galician coast and around the Alboran Sea.
In the Canary Islands, low clouds are forecast along the northern slopes of the taller islands. Other parts of the archipelago should experience clearer conditions.
Convective clouds are expected to develop during the afternoon across parts of eastern Spain, the northern mountains and eastern Andalusia. Areas affected may include the eastern Pyrenees, the Iberian System in Teruel, eastern Castilla-La Mancha and the eastern Betic ranges.
An isolated shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out in these mountain areas. Murcia was placed under a yellow thunderstorm warning, the lowest level on Spain’s three-tier alert system.
Clouds generated by daytime heating normally begin to weaken toward sunset. They could occasionally hide the Sun, but are less likely to produce the prolonged obstruction expected around the Cantabrian coast.
High clouds arriving from Africa may also cross eastern Andalusia. These thinner clouds may reduce the clarity of the view without completely preventing eclipse observation.
Most other parts of Spain are forecast to have predominantly clear skies.
A clear western horizon will be essential
The eclipse will occur during the evening, with the Sun already low in the western sky. Even clouds located many kilometres west or slightly northwest of an observation point could block the view.
Observers should choose an elevated or open location with an unobstructed western horizon. Buildings, trees, mountains and coastal terrain may hide the Sun before the eclipse reaches its maximum.
The eclipse will begin in A Coruña at 7:31 pm local time, reaching its maximum at 8:28 pm. Totality there will last approximately 76 seconds.
In Burgos, the maximum will occur at 8:29 pm, with 104 seconds of totality. Palma will experience its maximum at approximately 8:32 pm, when the Sun will be only around 2 degrees above the horizon.
The path of totality will cross northern Spain from west to east, passing through or near cities including A Coruña, Oviedo, León, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma. Southern Spain will experience a partial eclipse.
Local timings can be checked using the Spanish National Geographic Institute eclipse viewer.
Want to know if the eclipse will be visible from your location? Use the interactive tracker below to check its timing, solar coverage and the Sun’s position in the sky. Enter a city or country manually, or select “Use My Location” for a more precise result. If you choose this option, approve the browser’s location request when prompted so the tracker can determine your position automatically.
Interactive eclipse tracker: Al Jazeera
Extreme heat and calima are expected
Temperatures will rise across most of Spain on August 12. Maximums above 35°C (95°F) are expected across much of the interior and the Balearic Islands.
Temperatures may exceed 40°C (104°F) in the Ebro and Guadalquivir valleys, with similarly extreme values possible in some southwestern Atlantic valleys.
Mediterranean cities such as Palma and Málaga could begin the day above 25°C (77°F). By the time of the eclipse, temperatures should have fallen by approximately 2 to 5°C (4 to 9°F) from the afternoon maximum.
The eclipse itself is not expected to produce a noticeable temperature decrease. Totality will last little more than one minute in many Spanish locations and will occur near sunset, when incoming solar energy is already weakening.
Light calima could reduce visibility around the Alboran Sea, southern Andalusia, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The suspended Saharan dust should not completely prevent eclipse observation.
Remember to wear proper eye protection!
Proper eye protection is essential throughout the partial phases of the eclipse.
Always use certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard, and inspect them for scratches or damage before use.
Regular sunglasses, smoked glass and unfiltered cameras, binoculars or telescopes are not safe.
Only viewers inside the path of totality may briefly remove their eclipse glasses while the Sun is completely covered, replacing them immediately as the first bright edge of sunlight reappears.
